India’s PV Sindhu defeated local favourite Sun Yu 21-11, 17-21, 21-11 in 69 minutes to win the China Open and collect her first Super Series title. The 21-year-old became the third non-Chinese woman to win the title after Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo in 2007 and India’s own Saina Nehwal in 2014.Sindhu is from Hyderabad of Telangana state. After winning at the RIO Olympics this is the first title she has won after some gap. Earlier she has lost some mataches.
13:39hrs IST: First Super Series title for PV Sindhu. First of many, surely? Sun Yu on the other hand lost her sixth final of the year. Remember, she hadn’t lost a game in the tournament before today’s match.
13:35hrs IST: She needs only one! PV Sindhu defeats Chinese Sun Yu 21-11, 17-21, 21-11 to win the China Open!
13:34hrs IST: Sindhu catches the line with a backhand. Multiple match points here. 20-11.
13:32hrs IST: Sindhu is almost there. Sun Yu goes for a crosscourt smash and hits it wide. Sindhu is two points away. 19-10.
13:30hrs IST: And another. Sun Yu hits it long. Sindhu clenches her fist. Need to keep up the pressure. The Indian leads 16-9.
13:29hrs IST: Another error from Sun Yu, and Sindhu seems to have caught a second wind. Up 15-9.
13:28hrs IST: A great exchange at net. Sindhu ends up in an awkard position. Sun Yu hits crosscourt, but hits it wide. Sindhu is up 14-9 now.
13:27hrs IST: “You need to change it up more,” the coach tells Sindhu. “Ye crosscourt bhi maar sakti hai, aap aage jaao.”
13:25hrs IST: She has a three-point cushion, but Sindhu needs to step it up.
13:24hrs IST: Sindhu wants the shuttle changed. Sun Yu doesn’t. All mind games. Sun Yu takes two points but hits it wide and Sindhu goes into the break leading 11-8.
13:22hrs IST: Sindhu is moving ahead. Great play at the net and Sun Yu suddenly looking a little too slow. The Indian takes four straight points to lead 10-6.
13:21hrs IST: A long rally, and Sindhu closes it out with an angled drop. Great movement from both competitors. 6-6.
13:18hrs IST: Sun Yu is being lethal from the rear court. Mixes up drops and smashes and Sindhu fails to reach. She leads 5-4.
13:14hrs IST: It is neck and neck. Sindhu is trying to force the issue but Sun Yu’s defence holds up. The Chinese leads 4-3.
13:12hrs IST: This is a mirror image of yesterday’s semifinal. Hope the ending is not the same. Sindhu needs to regain composure and start the deciding game on a strong note.
13:10hrs IST: Sindhu saves one game point, but loses her serve and the second game 17-21. Remarkable turnaround from Sun Yu.
13:09hrs IST: Sun Yu has turned this around. She has controlled the game and has now earned four game points.
13:08hrs IST: Sun Yu has kicked it up a gear. The Chinese pulls out some deft drops to take her lead to 19-16.
13:07hrs IST: Sindhu puts an end to the streak and wins two points. Sun Yu wins the next to take the lead again. The Chinese leads 17-16.
13:05hrs IST: Six straight points for Sun Yu. 16-14. The momentum seems to have shifted.
13:03hrs IST: The home crowd roaring in support now. “One more point,” they chant. Sun Yu wins two and takes the lead. Sindhu trails 14-15.
