PV Sindhu enters semi-finals of Macau Open

Macau, Nov 28: Defending champion PV Sindhu continued her good run and entered the semifinals of the women's singles competition after beating China's Han Li in three games at the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament here today.

World No. 11 Sindhu prevailed over the fifth seeded Chinese 21-17 19-21 21-16 in a match that lasted over an hour at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion. The second seed will next take on the winner of the match between Canada's Michelle Li and Busanan Ongbumrungpan of Thailand.

Sindhu opened up a 5-1 lead early on and even though the Chinese narrowed the gap to 6-5, as the game progressed the Indian increased her lead and pocketed the opening game without much ado. In the second game, Sindhu once again surged ahead to a 11-6 lead but Han caught up with the Indian with a five-point burst.

The Indian then reeled off four points on the trot but the Chinese kept breathing down her neck, clawing back at 17-17. After a tough battle, it was Han who managed to get past Sindhu to roar back into contest. Han carried the momentum in the decider early on as she moved to 6-3 but Sindhu soon wriggled her way out of the rut to lead 14-8.

A gruelling battle ensued next but it was Indian who had the last laugh as she closed the door on her rival with four straight points.

PTI