Guangzhou: Indian badminton star P.V Sindhu who lost to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final of the year-end event last season in Dubai, defeated Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 21-16, 25-23 on Saturday to enter her second consecutive final of the BWF year-end event.
Sindhu went into the women’s singles semi-final high on confidence, having topped her group with three wins including one against her long-time nemesis Tai Tzu Ying in three games. That proved to be the major difference in the semi-final against Intanon.
In the opening game, it was Intanon who started with a more aggressive approach, while Sindhu was able to find her rhythm before beginning to play her own attacking style before defeating the Thailand badminton star.
Sindhu will take on Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the final.
Nozomi Okuhara advanced to the women’s singles title match by defeating compatriot Akane Yamaguchi and defending champion and world No. 2 Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14 in a 46-minute semifinal at Tianhe Gymnasium.
Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi of Japan will take on Lee So Hee/Shin Seung Chan of Korea in the women’s doubles final, while Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong will set up an all-Chinese mixed doubles final with Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping on Sunday.
