Tokyo Olympics, India’s PV Sindhu entered the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals badminton competition after beating Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong in her final Group J match.
Tokyo: India’s PV Sindhu entered the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals badminton competition at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics after beating Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong in her final Group J match, here on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Indian outclassed world No 34 Cheung 21-9 21-16 in a 35-minute clash to top the group J.
The sixth-seeded Sindhu used her strokes efficiently and gave almost nothing in the forecourt with fine netplay, wrapping up the first game 21-9.
Cheung fought back in the second game, moving Sindhu to the far backhand corner and inched to a 7-6 lead. As the rallies lengthened, Sindhu’s power came to her rescue a few times.
In the end, Sindhu’s better reach, movement, and use of court depth and angles was too much to handle for the 28-year old Cheung as the Indian won the second round 21-16.
Reigning world champion Sindhu came into the match with a 5-0 record against Cheung.
The shuttler from Hyderabad will now meet Denmark’s world number 12 Mia Blichfeldt, who topped Group I.
World No 7 Sindhu defeated Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel 21-7, 21-10 in her opening group match on Sunday.
Later in the day, B Sai Praneeth will take on Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands in his final men’s singles Group D match.
[HAMS LIVE]