Advertisement
X

BWF World Tour Final: Defending Champion PV Sindhu Beats He Bingjiao For Consolation Win, Ends 2019 On Positive Note

PV Sindhu, whose title BWF World Tour Final defence lay in tatters after her second successive loss on Thursday, scripted an incredible turnaround after being 9-18 down in the opening game to eventually outwit He Bingjiao 21-19 21-19 in minutes and finish third in her group

Already out of reckoning, India's PV Sindhu recorded a consolation win over China's He Bingjiao in the third Group A match to end her campaign on a positive note at the year-ending BWF World Tour Final at Guangzhou on Friday.

Sindhu, whose title defence lay in tatters after her second successive loss on Thursday, scripted an incredible turnaround after being 9-18 down in the opening game to eventually outwit Bingjiao 21-19 21-19 in minutes and finish third in the group.

This win also snapped Sindhu's run of four straight losses to the Chinese, making their head-to-head record 6-9.

The Indian struggled with her precision initially, allowing Bingjiao to lead 7-3 at one stage in the opening game. The left-handed Chinese cruised to a 11-6 advantage at the break with the Indian misjudging a shuttle.

Sindhu failed to reign in her errors even after the break, hitting the shuttle wide and long as Bingjiao jumped to a 18-9 lead.

However, the Indian affected a massive recovery, rattling off nine straight points to draw parity at 18-18.

Bingjiao managed to break the run of points before a deceptive return to serve took Sindhu to 19-19. The Indian then gathered the remaining two points to edge past Bingjiao in the opening game.

Sindhu carried her momentum in the second game, opening up a 7-3 lead initially and then moving to 11-6 advantage at the interval.

Bingjiao punished the two weak returns from Sindhu but then started committing unforced errors as the Indian lead 15-10.

The Chinese soon narrowed the gap to 16-18 before Sindhu won a point after a gruelling rally.

A good judgement at the backline earned Sindhu three match points. Bingjiao saved two before Sindhu sealed it with a smash on the third.

Sindhu will be next seen in the Premier Badminton League.

Show comments
US