PV Sindhu loses Hong Kong Open Super Series final: Highlights

Catch badminton live scores and live updates of Hong Kong Open Super Series final between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu Ying here.

India’s PV Sindhu couldn’t make it two Super Series titles in two weeks as she lost to world No. 3 Tai Tzu Ying 15-21, 17-21. Sindhu was her usual gritty self but her power game came up short against the clinical Ying, who showed why she has beaten world No. 1 Carolina Marin twice in two weeks.

PV Sindhu will look to win her second Super Series title in as many weeks when she takes on Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan in the Hong Kong Open final.(HT)

12:21hrs IST: Sindhu hits it into the net. And that is all. Tai Tzu Ying has defeated PV Sindhu 21-15, 21-17 in the Hong Kong Open badminton final.

12:20hrs IST: Four match points for Ying. Sindhu has saved one!

12:17hrs IST: Sindhu grabs two points. Ying takes one. And then we have the rally of the match. Ying goes down twice and manages to hit it over. She goes down the third time and Sindhu finishes the point. Sindhu trails 16-18.

12:16hrs IST: Sindhu is trailing by four points now. Time for another memorable comeback? 13-17.

12:14hrs IST: Ying beats Sindhu at her own game. A wily net exchange and Ying has taken the lead 15-13.

12:13hrs IST: Ying has come out of the break with some fury. Three straight points, last one a smash which sends Sindhu to her knees. Sindhu trails 11-13.

12:12hrs IST: Sindhu’s retrieving has been put to test today. She is trying to keep it tight to the net, because Ying’s pouncing on anything further up.

12:11hrs IST: Aggressive smash from Ying. A wayward one. Long rally fetches Sindhu a point who goes into the mid-game break with a slender 11-10 lead.

12:10hrs IST: Three points, three errors. Ying hits it wide. Sindhu hits the next into the net. Ying hits it wide again. Back level, 10-10.

12:08hrs IST: Sindhu’s struggling. This game, and the match, is Ying’s to lose. The Taiwanese is outclassing Sindhu, leaving the 5’10: Indian stranded time and again. Sindhu trails 8-9.

12:07hrs: And the Indian hits it long. Back level. 7-7.

12:06hrs IST: Service error from Ying. Sindhu is up 7-6 and needs to consolidate the lead.

12:05hrs IST: Ying showing her class now. Rushes to the net, hits an angled drop to leave Sindhu stranded. Ying up 5-4.

12:04hrs IST: Nevertheless, Ying has erased the 3-point deficit with an overhand smash.

12:03hrs IST: Ying’s hitting with the drift from the far side of the court. Any extra effort will cause the shuttle to fly long.

12:02hrs IST: Brilliant drop from Sindhu. Ying’s looking to extend the rallies by hitting it deep. Sindhu executes a perfect drop. Sindhu up 4-1.

12:00hrs IST: Sindhu has never defeated Ying after losing the opening game. Well, there’s a first time for everything.

11:59hrs IST: Ying with five game points. Needs only one as Sindhu hits it wide. Ying takes the first game 21-15.

11:57hrs IST: Sindhu goes foe a wild smash and blasts the net. Ying two points away from taking the first game.

11:56hrs IST: Ying’s turn to hit it wide now. Sindhu takes the serve and picks up two more points. 14-18 now.

11:54hrs IST: Sindhu’s under the pump now. Desperate around the head smash which goes well wide. Ying’s running away with this. 18-11.

11:53hrs IST: Sindhu ends the streak with two points. Ying takes the serve back, hits it long, takes it back and is now up 17-11.

11:52hrs IST: Make it 7 points now. Ying with a backhand return, Sindhu misjudges and it catches the line. Ying up 15-8.

11:50hrs IST: Both players clearing deep before Ying executes a disguised drop. Sindhu can’t reach and Ying has opened up a 5-point lead.

11:48hrs IST: Tai Tzu Ying has defeated world No. 1 Carolina Marin twice in two weeks and she’s showing why. Ying’s fluid movements coupled with her quick hands and posing troubles for Sindhu. Ying leads 11-8.

11:46hrs IST: Brilliance from Sindhu. Two around the head smashes, one deep clear and a down the line smash to finish the point. Takes the lead 8-7.

11:45hrs IST: And Sindhu levels it up. We are 6-6.

11:43hrs IST: Sindhu begins what is turning out to be a tight opening game. Tai Tzu Ying inching ahead at 6-3.

11:33hrs IST: PV Sindhu is set to take the court shortly. Why not check out the Olympic star in a never-seen-before glamorous avatar in the meantime.

PV Sindhu will look to win her second Super Series title in as many weeks when she takes on Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan in the Hong Kong Open final. Catch the live scores and updates of the Hong Kong Open final between PV Sindhu and Tai Tzu Ying here.

How PV Sindhu made the Hong Kong Open final

World No 9 Sindhu trails her 3rd-ranked opponent 3-4 in head to head. However, the Indian bested Ying in their last meeting in the Rio Olympic round of 16.

Sindhu dominated local shuttler Cheung Ngan Yi 21-14, 21-16 in Saturday’s semifinal, while Ying defeated world No. 1 Carolina Marin of Spain 21-17, 14-21, 21-16.

Both shuttlers have a Super Series title to their name this year. While Sindhu won the China Open Super Series Premier, Ying won the Indonesia Open.

In the men’s final, qualifier Sameer Verma will take on local favourite NG Ka Long Angus. Verma stunned world No. 3 Jan O Jorgensen in Saturday’s semifinal.