Sindhu edges Bingjiao to open campaign with a win; Srikanth loses opener

Bengaluru, December 13: It was a battle of equals, as PV Sindhu held onto her nerves to win the opening game of the Dubai World Super Series Final on Wednesday. After effortlessly taking the opening game, Sindhu faced a stiff challenge from Hi Bingjiao, before winning the opening match 21-11, 16-21, 21-18.

It was a 63-minute thriller as Sindhu prevailed over China’s world No. 9 Bingjiao. Bingjiao capitalised on an unforced error from Sindhu to take the opening points. But the Indian shuttler jumped right back from 2-0 down to take a 3-2 lead in the first game. Though Bingjiao attempted to fight back, the first game belonged to the Indian as she waltzed to take the opening game by a whopping 10 points, winning the game 21-11 in just 14 mins.

From the looks of the first game, Sindhu looked determined to wrap up the match in just two games. But world no. 9 Bingjiao wasn’t one to let go so easily, as she romped to a 4-0 lead in the second game. But a strew of unforced errors saw Sindhu get right back into the tie. At 12-11 Sindhu took the lead for the first time in the second game. But Bingjiao played a more steady game than her opponent to grab the lead and collect four points on the trot.

As compared to the opening game Sindhu seemed to struggle, whereas Bingjiao was the more calm player on court, taking it point by point. Bingjiao wrapped up the second game 21-16, taking the match into the decider.

It was a contest of equals from thereon, as Bingjiao held a slight advantage in the final game, but Sindhu was hot on her heels. Capitalising on an unforced error by the Chinese, Sindhu took the lead at 6-5 in the decider. Bingjiao had no return to a powerful slice shot by the Indian, as Sindhu extended her lead by 8-6. It was a battle of nerves for both the contestants and the onlookers as the match swung both ways.

The unforced errors looked to be Bingjiao’s curse as the game tilted in the Indian’s favour as Sindhu maintained a four point lead. But it wasn’t over yet, as Bingjiao narrowed it to one point as Sindhu lost a challenge referral as the call of “out” was validated by the TV umpires.

But it was a matter of a few points, as a gritty Sindhu held on to take the decider by three points, winning the final game by 21-18. With that the Indian got off to a winning start.

Srikanth loses opener

Meanwhile, Kidambi Srikanth campaign kicked off his campaign on a losing note, as the Indian went down to world No. 1 Victor Axelsen in the men’s single tie on Wednesday.

Though the Indian made a feeble attempt to put up a fight, he had no reply to Axelsen’s smashes, as the towering Dane, wrapped up the match in just two games.

Returning from injury Srikanth went down listlessly to Axelsen, losing 21-13, 21-17.