Olympics (Badminton): Sindhu will take on Japan’s Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals
India’s leading female badminton player PV Sindhu has reached the quarter-finals of the women’s singles events of the badminton event of the ongoing Olympic Games here.
The reigning world champion is now at least one step away from a bronze medal but will have to beat Akino Yamaguchi of Japan, who will face her in the quarter-finals.
Rio Olympics silver medalist Sidhu defeated Denmark’s Mia Blechfeet in straight games on Thursday at Musashino Forest Plaza Court No. Sindhu registered a 21-15, 21-13 win against Miya in a match that lasted 41 minutes.
The 23-year-old tried to dominate Mia Na Sindhu, during which some shuttles went off the court, which did not go in her favor. For this the Indian player tried his best to cover the court. Making fewer mistakes than her opponent, Sindhu took a 10-5 lead in the first game.
A crosscourt smash on Miya’s backhand forecourt gave Sindhu an 11-6 lead. There was a mistake in the same area and Sindhu went ahead 12-6.
However, 26-year-old Sindhu’s lead was waning when Miya made several brilliant attempts to make a comeback. Mia had some great rallies with a smash and took the score to 11-13.
After this the Indian player showed a great game and without giving any chance to the Danish player, the game was won by 21-15.
When the second game started, Sindhu made a flurry of smashes. After this effort, Mia made several mistakes, due to which Sidhu took a 5-0 lead.
Afalling behind in the second game, Mia’s serve was also not getting right. Sidhu then put up a brilliant crosscourt close to the forehand corner to take a 9-4 lead.
Gradually, the Indian player’s grip was getting stronger in the game, till the game break, Sidhu had taken a lead of 11-6.
Mistakes continued on Mia’s side and Sindhu was becoming increasingly dominant. Sindhu took the lead 20-11. Denmark’s Mia then saved two game points but she failed to save her match. In this way the Indian player has made it to the quarterfinals after the win.
Sindhu had qualified for the knockout rounds while topping Group J. They won both their group stage matches.
Sindhu is now the only hope of a medal in badminton. In men’s singles B. Sai Praneeth and men’s doubles pair of Satwik Sairaj Venkireddy and Chirag Shetty have already been eliminated.
Talking about Yamaguchi, she defeated South Korea’s Gayun Kim 2-0 in the pre-quarterfinals. Yamaguchi won this match 21–17, 21—-.
