Beiwen Zhang dashed PV Sindhu's hopes of retaining the $350,000 Yonex-Sunrise Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta India Open 2018 women's singles title with a spirited display in New Delhi on Sunday, February 4.
Zhang took down the top seeded Indian 21-18, 11-21, 22-20 in a gripping 69-minute battle at a packed Siri Fort Indoor Stadium to win the BWF World Tour 500 event.
While the fifth seeded Zhang pocketed $26,250 and 9200 ranking points for her effort, Sindhu had to be content with $13,300 and 7800 ranking points.
Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 for a spectacular show and the Silver at the #IndianOpenSuper500 today.
— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) February 4, 2018
It is always a pleasure watching you play on the field! Here's to wishing you many more glories and laurels in future! pic.twitter.com/PkKL0EbJfi
Zhang saves match point
It was not as if Sindhu did not have her chances. Leading 20-19 in the final game, she squandered a championship point by hitting a return into the net. Zhang capitalised on the opportunity and denied the World number four any further leeway by winning three points in a row to seal the game and contest 22-20.
The first game was a closely contested affair with neither willing to surrender the advantage. They went neck to neck all the way until 15-all before Sindhu let the pressure get to her and conceded three points. Zhang took advantage and rode on the momentum to win 21-18.
Sindhu made a quick recovery and upped her game in the second by covering the court well and minimise the errors to level the scores by winning 21-11 and take the match into the third.
Zhang delivers under pressure
Zhang, who travels without a coach and a sparring partner, said she had nothing to lose and the pressure was more on her rival to deliver. "I think she took more pressure than me," she said.
The victory was doubly sweet for her as she did not win a single match during the Premier Badminton League held in India last month.
"I didn't win any match (in the PBL) and now I have all of it," she exclaimed.
Shi Yuqi delivers on debut
Shi Yuqi, making his maiden appearance in the tournament, made it memorable by clinching the men's singles title and the winner's purse of $26,250. The fourth-seeded Chinese, who had made it to the final of the All England Open Championships, last year downed third seed Chou Tien Chen 21-18, 21-14 in 47 minutes.
It was the 21-year-old's second big victory, following his success in 2016 French Open and will fetch him 9,200 ranking points.
"It was tiring tournament for me as there were long battles and long rallies. It was a tough victory," Yuqi said.
For Tien Chen, it was the second time he failed to cross the final hurdle in the Indian Open. Last year, he had lost to World No1 Viktor Axelsen.
Unstoppable Gideon and Sanjaya
Men's doubles top seeds Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya from Indonesia justified their billing by downing fourth seeds Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen from Denmark 21-14, 21-16 to retain their title.
In the women's doubles, third seeds Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu of Indonesia extended their brilliant run in the tournament by winning the final against the second-seeded Thai duo of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai 21-18, 21-15.
Second seeded Danes Mathias Christiansen and Christinna Pedersen claimed the mixed doubles title by upstaging Indonesia's Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti 21-14, 21-15 in just 37 minutes.
Men's singles
4-Shi Yuqi (Chn) bt 3-Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) 21-18, 21-14
Men's doubles
1-Marcus Gideon/ Kevin Sanjaya (Ina) bt 4-Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-14, 21-16
Women's singles
5-Beiwen Zhang (USA) bt 1-PV Sindhu (Ind) 21-18, 11-21, 22-20
Women's doubles
3-Greysia Polii/ Apriyani Rahayu (Ina) bt 2-Jongkolphan Kititharakul/ Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) 21-18, 21-15
Mixed doubles
5-Mathias Christiansen/ Christinna Pedersen bt Praveen Jordan/ Melati Daeva Oktavianti (Ina) 21-14, 21-15
