Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the next round of the Indonesia Open with a hard-fought victory over Japan’s Aya Ohori. Sindhu won the match 17-21, 21-17, in 70 minutes to book her spot in the round of 16, where she’ll face Yvonne LI of Germany.
It was third seeded PV Sindhu’s 11th straight victory over the left-handed Japanese shuttler.
It was an unfamiliar start for the star Indian shuttler as Ohori, owing to her electric tempo and a number of unforced errors from Sindhu. The Japanese won the game 21-17 as Sindhu kept frowning.
Sindhu made a comeback in the second. She reduced her unforced errors and went all out as she went 11-10 ahead during the mid-game interval. Sindhu continued the momentum and won the game 21-17, to force the match into the decider.
Sindhu started the third game from where left as she raced on to a 11-6 lead at the change of ends. Ohoroi, however, made a comeback and the game was tied at 15-15 at one stage. But, Sindhu switched gears and eventually won the contest 21-17 letting out a cry of relief.
Sindhu had already qualified provisionally for the upcoming BWF World Tour Finals but her sole title at the World Tour Level came almost three years ago at the World Tour Finals in 2018. With Akane Yamaguchi, Sayaka Takahashi and An Se Young all being in the other half, it should be a smooth sail for the Indian.
Also, she would hope for a successful week in Bali ahead of the season-ending event, the World Championships.
Later in the day, Kidambi Srikanth will be in action against compatriot HS Prannoy, while B Sai PRaneeth will take on Toma Junior Popov of France. In the women’s doubles category, the pair of Ashwini Ponappa/Reddy N Sikki will gace the Stoeva sisters, Gabriela and Stefani of Bulgaria. In the mixed doubles category, B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponappa will be up against Takuro Hoki/Nami Matsuyama of Japan.
On Tuesday, Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen fought hard before going down to top seed Kento Momota of Japan, while Parupalli Kashyap suffered a disappointing 11-21, 14-21 defeat against Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the opening round of the Indonesia Open Super 1000 event.
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