Sindhu loses to Okuhara in Thailand Open final (Lead)
Sunday - July 15, 2018 7:06 pm ,
Category : SPORTS
Sindhu loses to Okuhara in Thailand Open final (Lead)
Bangkok July 15 (IANS) India s star shuttler P.V. Sindhu lost to reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in straight games in the women s singles final of the Thailand Open here on Sunday.
The second seeded Sindhu lost 15-21 18-21 in 50 minutes as the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist took a 6-5 lead in head-to-head record.
While fourth seeded Okuhara got a prize money of $26 250 Sindhu a three-time World Championship medallist bagged $13 300.
The Japanese was quick off the blocks taking a 6-2 lead. But Sindhu did well to gain three consecutive points trailing 5-6.
Okuhara then won a 23-rally battle to take a 7-5 lead before she went on to extend her lead to four points with the scoreline at 12-8 thanks to couple of unforced errors on the part of the Indian.
Sindhu sensed the urgency in reducing the deficit as she didn t allow Okuhara to run away with the game. However the Japanese cotinued to maintain at least a two-point game until she reached 17 points.
Thereafter Okuhara produced four consecutive points in a hurry to pocket the first game 21-15. A body smash rattled Sindhu who then hit a shot wide before hitting one onto the net to trail 0-1 in the match.
In the second game Sindhu started brigh racing to an early 6-2 lead. But Sindhu was left stranded at the six-point mark as Okuhara fought valiantly to garner five points on the trot to take a 7-6 lead.
The Indian then brought her high-jump smashes to the fore to reel in three successive points to lead 9-7 but the Japanese equalised at the nine-point mark. Sindhu managed to go into the midgame break with a two point lead.
Afterwards Okuhara brought out some delectable cross-court net-game to trouble Sindhu and lead 14-12. Even though Sindhu quickly pulled level Okuhara raced to a 17-14 lead.
Sindhu came out with a strong defence which earned her two quick points. Okuhara smashed at the left and Sindhu dived to put it slowly past the other net but the Japanese couldn t reach there. Then Okuhara shot wide to manage to hold a slim 17-16 lead.
Then Sindhu s smash went long as she trailed 16-18. Under pressure both matched shots for shots as a half-smash on the right from Sindhu made Okuhara lead by a point before the Japanese could only defend a smash into the net with the scores tied 18-all.
Just like the first game Okuhara then showed her aggression to force Sindhu on the defensive. And as the Indian s shot hit the net the Japanese got her match point.
In the men s singles final Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan defeated Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto 21-16 13-21 21-9 in 58 minutes.
The men s doubles title went to Japanese top seeded pair of Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda who defeated compatriots Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe 21-17 21-19 in 44 minutes.
The mixed doubles final witnessed a huge upset as Indonesian eighth seeds Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja stunned English top seeds Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock 21-12 21-12 in 28 minutes.
In the women s doubles final Indonesian fourth seeds Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu thrashed Japanese third seeds Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi 21-13 21-10 in 53 minutes.
--IANS pur/mr
The second seeded Sindhu lost 15-21 18-21 in 50 minutes as the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist took a 6-5 lead in head-to-head record.
While fourth seeded Okuhara got a prize money of $26 250 Sindhu a three-time World Championship medallist bagged $13 300.
The Japanese was quick off the blocks taking a 6-2 lead. But Sindhu did well to gain three consecutive points trailing 5-6.
Okuhara then won a 23-rally battle to take a 7-5 lead before she went on to extend her lead to four points with the scoreline at 12-8 thanks to couple of unforced errors on the part of the Indian.
Sindhu sensed the urgency in reducing the deficit as she didn t allow Okuhara to run away with the game. However the Japanese cotinued to maintain at least a two-point game until she reached 17 points.
Thereafter Okuhara produced four consecutive points in a hurry to pocket the first game 21-15. A body smash rattled Sindhu who then hit a shot wide before hitting one onto the net to trail 0-1 in the match.
In the second game Sindhu started brigh racing to an early 6-2 lead. But Sindhu was left stranded at the six-point mark as Okuhara fought valiantly to garner five points on the trot to take a 7-6 lead.
The Indian then brought her high-jump smashes to the fore to reel in three successive points to lead 9-7 but the Japanese equalised at the nine-point mark. Sindhu managed to go into the midgame break with a two point lead.
Afterwards Okuhara brought out some delectable cross-court net-game to trouble Sindhu and lead 14-12. Even though Sindhu quickly pulled level Okuhara raced to a 17-14 lead.
Sindhu came out with a strong defence which earned her two quick points. Okuhara smashed at the left and Sindhu dived to put it slowly past the other net but the Japanese couldn t reach there. Then Okuhara shot wide to manage to hold a slim 17-16 lead.
Then Sindhu s smash went long as she trailed 16-18. Under pressure both matched shots for shots as a half-smash on the right from Sindhu made Okuhara lead by a point before the Japanese could only defend a smash into the net with the scores tied 18-all.
Just like the first game Okuhara then showed her aggression to force Sindhu on the defensive. And as the Indian s shot hit the net the Japanese got her match point.
In the men s singles final Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan defeated Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto 21-16 13-21 21-9 in 58 minutes.
The men s doubles title went to Japanese top seeded pair of Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda who defeated compatriots Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe 21-17 21-19 in 44 minutes.
The mixed doubles final witnessed a huge upset as Indonesian eighth seeds Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja stunned English top seeds Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock 21-12 21-12 in 28 minutes.
In the women s doubles final Indonesian fourth seeds Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu thrashed Japanese third seeds Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi 21-13 21-10 in 53 minutes.
--IANS pur/mr
