Sindhu triumphs

Seoul, September 18
PV Sindhu defeated Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a thrilling summit clash to clinch the women’s singles title at the Korea Open Super Series.
The 22-year-old Indian overcame eighth seeded Okuhara 22-20 11-21 20-18 in yet another energy-sapping contest that lasted an hour and 23 minutes to win the $600,000 tournament.
Sindhu had lost to Okuhara in the World Championships final in Glasgow last month in an epic battle. Today, she turned the tables on the Japanese to become the first Indian to win the Korea Super Series, her third overall.
Even contest
Sindhu led 2-0 early in the first game but Okuhara was quick to erase the deficit. The Indian once again moved to a 5-3 advantage with Okuhara committing unforced errors. The first glimpse of the epic World Championship final was visible when they had a long rally at 6-5 which Sindhu won with a straight smash.
However, the Indian lost the advantage when Okuhara reeled off four points, showing her prowess to fight back to grab a 9-7 lead. A smash at Okuhara’s backhand helped Sindhu make it 9-9 but the Japanese ensured that she had the advantage at 11-9. Sindhu played an attacking rally and sealed it with a smash at 9-12.
In fact, she grabbed five of the next eight points after the break to turn the tables at 14-13. Sindhu once again dished out another intense rally and produced a precise overhead smash to lead 15-14.
The duo kept fighting and in another thrilling rally, Sindhu had to resort to continuous smashes before Okuhara finally sent one to the net to make it 17-17.
A simple return going to net made Sindhu hung her face in frustration. Then, the Indian went wide and long to hand over two game point opportunities to Okuhara.
The Japanese, however, could not make use of the chances as her backhand flick near the net went wide and then she made an error of judgement at the baseline to allow Sindhu claw back at 20-20. Sindhu walked away with the opening game that lasted 28 minutes when Okuhara sent a return serve to the net and then saw the shuttle sail over the baseline.
Okuhara roars
World no. 7 Okuhara made a roaring comeback in the second game after Sindhu got buried in a heap of unforced errors. Right from the first stroke when she smashed long, Sindhu continued to struggle with her length and precision even as Okuhara grabbed the shuttle early to dominate the proceedings of the second game completely.
The Olympics bronze medallist Japanese led 11-6 at the break and continued to extend her lead with Sindhu struggling with her strokes. In fact, it looked like the Indian had given up the fight as Okuhara took the match to the decider when Sindhu’s return got buried at the net once again.
Sindhu zooms ahead
In the decider, Sindhu led 11-5 at the break when Okuhara went wide. Okuhara displayed tremendous defensive skills and tight net play to reduce the deficit to 16-18.
Sindhu was then left lying on the floor after another physically and mentally draining rally which the Indian won after Okuhara found the net. A tired-looking shot went to net but Sindhu produced a good net return to have three match points at 20-17.
Sindhu could not reach the forecourt after another rally as Okuhara saved the match point but the Japanese sent the shuttle wide next as the Indian sealed the match.