Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu stormed her way into the semifinals of BWF World Championship after a dominant straight games victory over China’s Sun Yu at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on Friday.
PV Sindhu
The fourth seeded Indian was in a ruthless form and dominated the proceedings from the word go to win the match 21-14, 21-9 in just 39 minutes. The win not only saw the 22-year-old enter into the last four but also ensured a medal for her in the elite competition.
Sindhu began the match on front-foot opening up a 3-0 lead. The Chinese clawed her way back and reduced the gap to one point. With the score reading 5-4 in Sindhu’s favour, she won six straight points to win lead 11-4 at the break. After the play resumed, the story continued with Sindhu steamrolling her way towards winning the first game. Sun Yu tried to stop the juggernaut but barely could do much as Sindhu raced to win the opening game 21-14.
After the change of ends, Sindhu continued her good run to take an 8-4 lead. The Chinese had no answer for Sindhu’s precision play and made too many errors allowing Sindhu go into the break 11-4. The World No.4 resumed from where she left and Sun Yu tried to launch a comeback but Sindhu maintained her stronghold and opened up a huge a lead. Sun Yu tried delaying the inevitable but Sindhu eventually sealed the match 21-9 to march into the semifinals.
Sindhu who has already won two consecutive bronze in 2013 and 2014 is assured of her third medal in the World Championships.
She will be up against another Chinese player; the reigning junior world champion Chen Yufei.
“Well I am happy with the way I have played today and I am pleased with the results. Even though I won, I must admit that Sun Yu is not an easy player to play against and the last time I played against her I lost to her (In Dubai 2016),” Sindhu said after the match.
“I am happy with the performance today. I went on the court thinking I need to give my best and play my game. Last time I played her I lost to her in Dubai. It wasn’t easy and each point was important to me, even although I was leading,” Sindhu said after the match.
“Many people tell me – in the bigger events you really play well. Overall I am happy with my performance but I shouldn’t take it easy and have to prepare for tomorrow,” she added.
Talking about her blockbuster encounter with Chen tomorrow, Sindhu said, “She is a good player and she is playing well. It is never easier in the semi final of a World Championship, anything can happen. I have to be prepared for everything.”
However, it was curtains for Kidambi Srikanth as he bowed out of the tournament after going down 14-21, 18-21 against World No.1 Son Wan Ho of Korea.