Shuttler Sindhu crashes out of Australian Open (Lead)

Sydney June 23 (IANS) Indian star P.V. Sindhu was knocked out of the $750 000 Australian Open Super Series badminton tournament following a tough quarter-final battle with World No.1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei here on Friday.

Sindhu won the first game before Tai staged a strong comeback to register a 10-21 22-20 21-16 verdict in the women s singles clash which lasted for about an hour.

The top seeded Tai improved her head to head record against World No.4 Sindhu to 7-3.

In the opening game Tai had no response to Sindhu s smashes as the Rio Olympics silver medallist dominated the proceedings to pocket it easily.

Tai however made a strong comeback in the second game taking a 4-1 lead before Sindhu clawed her way back to 8-8.

It was a neck and neck battle at that time and Sindhu then took a 13-10 lead before Tai won four points on the trot to take a 14-13 lead which she extended further to 18-14.

Sindhu made a critical error at that stage where she allowed Tai to save the match point and take the game into the decider with a 22-20 win.

The final game was again a close contest with both players trying to outwit each other. While Sindhu raced to a 14-10 lead Tai kept her nerves to stage a comeback and make it 15-15.

Towards the end the Chinese Taipei shuttler played her A game to pocket the game 21-16.

--IANS
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