PV Sindhu clinches Singapore Open title

SINGAPORE: Star India shuttler PV Sindhu clinched the women's singles title at the Singapore Open 2022 BWF Super 500 tournament after beating China's Wang Zhi Yi in the final, here on Sunday.

World No 7 Sindhu took 58 minutes to defeat world No 11 Zhi Yi 21-9, 11-21, 21-15 and win her third title of the year. Two-time Olympic medallist earlier won the Syed Modi International in January and Swiss Open in March, however, were BWF Super 300-level meets.

Sindhu, a former world champion and seeded third in the tournament, started the final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium with purpose. After Zhi Yi scored the first two points of the game courtesy lucky deflections off the top of the net, Sindhu came roaring back to take the next 13 points on the trot before pocketing the opening game with ease to take the lead.

With the change of ends for the second game placing Sindhu against the drift, the momentum of the match seemed to turn as Wang Zhi Yi raced to a 6-0 lead before the Indian could get on the scoreboard. Despite Sindhu trying her best, Wang Zhi Yi easily took the second game to force a decider.

The third game saw a thrilling start with both players exchanging intense rallies. Sindhu did manage to take a five-point lead into the break but with the Chinese shuttler poised to end the decider playing from the favourable end, there was still work to be done.

Once the game restarted, Zhi Yi promptly cut Sindhu's lead down to just one with the score at 12-11. However, Sindhu fought tooth and nail to keep her nose ahead. The thinnest of margins decided each rally but eventually it was Sindhu who stood tall once the dust settled and won her first BWF Super 500 title. IANS

Also read: Taijul Islam's five-wicket haul in Bangladesh's clean sweep of ODI series vs West Indies

Also Watch: