PV Sindhu vs Nozomi Okuhara, BWF World Championships final live: PV Sindhu faces Nozomi Okuhara in the final. (Source: Express photo)
Rio Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu is all set to create history as she faces Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the women’s singles final on Sunday at Glasgow, Scotland. The Hyderabadi shuttler looks confident after knocking out China’s Chen Yufei in the semifinals on Saturday, assuring India of at least a silver. On the other hand, Okuhara defeated Saina Nehwal, who ended her campaign with bronze, in a close encounter to reach the final. Okuhara struggled against the London Olympic bronze medallist in the first game but returned in the second game to turn the match in her favour. Sindhu said ahead of the match, “It will be a tough match in the final. Though I have beaten her (Okuhara) in the Olympics, it is a new match and there will be a new strategy. She will also come up with new strokes and I will have to be prepared. I will give my heart out for the gold.” Follow the page for live updates and scores of women’s singles final between PV Sindhu and Nozomi Okuhara.
PV Sindhu vs Nozomi Okuhara, BWF World Championships Final: PV Sindhu faces Nozomi Okuhara in Court 1
1955 hrs IST: Sindhu loses the first game against Okuhara. The match can be divided into three phases. First, both players matching each other’s play, taking measured points. Second, Sindhu takes lead and goes into break with 11-5 lead. Third, Sindhu trails Okuhara by four points towards the end of the match to finally lose against twelfth seed 19-21.
1951 hrs IST: Sindhu makes it equal at 18-18. Anything could happen as the game gets more interesting.
1949 hrs IST: What a dramatic turnaround. After Sindhu was leading the game with four points into the break, Japan’s Okuhara turned the game in her stride to stand four points ahead of Sindhu at 18-14.
1947 hrs IST: Okuhara figured a way to get past Sindhu as she makes it 17-14 in her favour.
1945 hrs IST: Okuhara attempts a comeback as she reduces the gap to 14-13 first, then equalling it at 14-14.
1940 hrs IST: Sindhu keeps the game in her favour but loses on a point after a stunning rally. Sindhu leads 13-10 against Okuhara.
1937 hrs IST: Sindhu makes it 11-5 at break. Good job with the lead. Now the Hyderabadi shuttler needs to maintain the point difference to win the first game in hope of historic gold.
1935 hrs IST: Fourth seed Sindhu finally takes the lead. The first game stands at 8-5. She now needs to maintain the lead.
1927 hrs IST: Match begins. Both the girls keep the game draw at 5-5, each taking one step at at time.
1924 hrs IST: Nozomi Okuhara facing close to the wall, seemingly praying. All set for the final now as Sindhu warm ups – shadow, quick jogs, hands stretched full behind back.
1909 hrs IST: Women’s singles final between PV Sindhu and Nozomi Okuhara is now underway. Sindhu in yellow, the colour she wore during her Rio final match. She got a rousing applause as she entered the court.
1901 hrs IST: Sindhu to start play in a few minutes from now. Sindhu had said after winning the semifinal, ” “When you get to the final, you want to win. You want to win the gold medal for the country and you can do anything for the country. It was the same in Rio last year and I want to win a medal for my country. It will be a tough match in the final. Though I have beaten her (Okuhara) in the Olympics, it is a new match and there will be a new strategy. She will also come up with new strokes and I will have to be prepared. I will give my heart out for the gold.”
1850 hrs IST: Chinese pair of Chen Qingshen-Jia Yifan win the women’s doubles 21-18, 17-21, 21-15. Next up is Sindhu vs Okuhara. Wishes for the Hyderabadi shuttler pouring in.
Best of luck for the finals @pvsindhu1. You inspire millions of Indians and make us proud! #wc2017finals #goforgold
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) 27 August 2017
1823 hrs IST: The Japanese pair Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota won the second game 21-17. The match moves on to the deciding game with the Chinese pair taking the lead.
1823 hrs IST: Sindhu and Okuhara last faced each other at the Singapore Open in April. They have played each other twice till now and both the matches have been won by the fourth seeded Sindhu.
1810 hrs IST: Sindhu takes the court after doubles women final match between China’s Chen Qingshen-Jia Yifan and Japan’s Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota. The Chinese pair won the first game 21-18.
1750 hrs IST: All Indian eyes are on Sindhu as the country stops to watch their badminton star fight for World Championships glory after Saina Nehwal departed with a bronze medal as she went down 12-21, 21-17, 21-11 in the other semi-final against Sindhu’s final opponent Okuhara.
@BAI_Media Glasgow Indians will cheer for @Pvsindhu1 Chak dey India pic.twitter.com/HUbxKKGAii
— Ravindra Jaiswal (@Indianajais) 27 August 2017
1730 hrs IST: This is going to be a historic match for the country as all eyes will be on the Rio silver medallist Sindhu, who faces 12th seed Okuhara from Japan. Seeded fourth, Sindhu beat China’s Chen Yufei 21-13, 21-10 in the semi-finals to record an easy win, dominating the match with her attacking plays and some jump smashes. With the win, Sindhu stays unbeaten against a Chinese player at the Worlds!
1715 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the BWF World Championships final taking place in Glasgow, Scotland as PV Sindhu faces Nozomi Okuhara in hope of a historic gold.
