pv sindhu

Sindhu began the match strongly and took just 12 minutes to win the first game 21-11 against Evgeniya Kosetskaya of the National Badminton Federation of Russia. The world No. 28 Kosetskaya decided to withdraw before the start of the second game and gave the Indian shuttler an easy passage to the final on Sunday. With this win, the two-time Olympic medallist remained on course for her first BWF title since winning the world championships in 2019.

Former world champion Sindhu defeated Lauren Lam of the US 21-16, 21-13 in a 33 minute clash. Both players started the match strongly. However, Sindhu went into the break with a slender lead of 11-10. From there, Indian found her groove and won the first game in 15 minutes. The Indian badminton player kept control of the court in the second game and raced to an 11-6 lead. She then pocketed the match in straight games.

With men's singles top seed Kidambi Srikanth forced to pull out along with six other players after they returned a positive test in RT-PCR tests conducted on Tuesday, Sindhu kept the home hopes alive by reaching the quarter-finals with a comfortable straight games win against compatriot Ira Sharma in the second round on Thursday. There was more setback for India when women's fourth seed Saina Nehwal was sent packing by compatriot Malvika Bansod in straight games.

In a video produced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), athletes called on world leaders and decision-makers to ensure free and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. The call comes a few weeks before the start of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, which will take place from February 4-20. Launched by the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday, the video features more than 20 Olympians and Paralympians from all corners of the world.

It will be a busy season next year for the Indians as they will play at least 20 events, starting with the Yonex Sunrise India Open from January 11-16 in Delhi and ending with the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2022, December 14-22 in Guangzhou, China. Apart from Sindhu, Indian badminton has high hopes from Srikanth, Sen, Parupalli Kashyap, B Sai Praneeth, HS Prannoy and the doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy in 2022.

Defending champion Sindhu beat Thailand's ninth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-14, 21-18 in the pre-quarterfinal match that lasted 48 minutes, to stay on course for a second successive world badminton title. This was the fifth win for world No 7 Sindhu over the 10th-ranked Chochuwong from eight meetings. The Thai had beaten Sindhu in the previous two meetings, including the one at the BWF World Tour Finals earlier this month.

Playing an early morning match at the Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín, Sindhu emerged 21-14, 21-18 winner to set up a last-eight clash with World No 1 and old nemesis Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, who needed three games to overcome Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland 21-10, 19-21, 21-11 in the pre-quarterfinals on Thursday, Sindhu, the defending World Champion as she won the title when the event was last held in 2018, started off superbly, engaging her rival in long rallies and slowly building up momentum. After the initial exchanges, Sindhu took a 5-1 lead and slowly extended it, and make it 14-9. She went on to win the first game 21-14.

Two-time Olympic medallist beat her opponent Yamaguchi 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 in an exciting clash that lasted one hour 10 minutes. She will now face South Korea's An Seyoung, who beat Thai top seed Pornpawee Chochuwong 25-23, 21-17 in the other semis, in the final. It was Sindhu and Yamaguchi's fourth meeting of the year. While Indian beat the Japanese shuttler at the All England Open and the Tokyo Olympics quarter-finals, Yamaguchi came out on top in the most recent meeting - the Indonesia Masters semi-finals.

Intanon eased past Japan's Asuka Takahashi 21-17, 21-12 in the quarterfinal. This will be Sindhu's third successive semifinal appearance after the French Open and Indonesia Masters. Yujin was quick off the blocks as she won the first game 21-14 in 17 minutes. Sindhu recovered in the second game and raced to a 14-7 lead but a resilient Yujin almost clawed back and ensured a tight finish. Sindhu eventually took it 21-19 to level the scores.

Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu stormed into the women's singles quarter-finals with a comfortable 21-12, 21-18 victory over German shuttler Yvonne Li in a clash, which lasted for just 37 minutes. After the initial exchanges in the first game, the two players went neck-and-neck as the reigning world champion maintained a two-point lead at 6-4. The Indian won seven consecutive points in this game as she took a 16-9 lead before going on to win the game 21-12.