India’s star shuttler PV Sindhu overcame Indonesian Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in three games on Saturday to set-up the Thailand Open women’s singles final against reigning world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. [caption id=“attachment_4051679” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] PV Sindhu and Zonomi Okuhara in action. Agencies[/caption] World No 29 Gregoria stretched World No 5 Sindhu in the first two games of a semi-final. Second seed Sindhu dug deep to win the first game 23-21 before losing the second game 16-21. Gregoria ran out of gas in the third game, which Olympic 2016 silver medallist Sindhu comfortably won with a 21-9 margin. Gregoria started strong, taking an 11-7 lead in the first game. After the mid-game break, Sindhu showed urgency in reducing the deficit to one with the Indonesian stranded at 11 points. However, Gregoria continued her impressive start as she held a four-point advantage at 16-12. Sending the need to come out all guns blazing, Sindhu stepped up her game and quickly eliminated the deficit at the 16-point mark. Later, both Sindhu and Gregoria alternated a point each till the 21-point mark after which Sindhu sealed the game in style. In the second game, Sindhu continued from where she left as opened up a 9-5 lead. But the gutsy Indonesian came up with a seven-point streak to not only pull level at the nine-point mark but also to hold a 12-9 lead. After Sindhu earned a point, Greogria enjoyed another brilliant phase as she bagged four consecutive points which gave her a 16-10 lead before pocketing the second game 21-16. Sindhu, however, turned the heat in the third game. Starting strongly, she raced to a 5-1 advantage before Gregoria fought valiantly to reduce the gap to one point with the Indian leading 8-7. Having put in so much of effort, Gregoria looked tired and lacked energy as Sindhu went on a roll by pocketing 10 successive points. An 18-7 lead for Sindhu almost sealed the Indian’s path to the final as she sealed the third game 21-9. However, Sindhu faces a tough battle in the final against Okuhara, defeated United States seventh seed Beiwen Zhang 21-17, 21-10 in 34 minutes in the other semi-final. Prior to Sunday’s final, three-time World Championship medallist Sindhu and 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Okuhara have fought 10 times in their careers, with both winning five times each.
Highlights, Thailand Open 2018 final, badminton result: Nozomi Okuhara beats PV Sindhu to claim maiden title
Catch the live score and updates of the title clash between PV Sindhu and Nozomi Okuhara at the Thailand Open 2018 in Bangkok.
 "Highlights, Thailand Open 2018 final, badminton result: Nozomi Okuhara beats PV Sindhu to claim maiden title")
. @nozomi_o11 won the match 21-15; 21-18 to defeat @Pvsindhu1 in a straight game. Wasn't an ideal finish but you will come back strong, Sindhu. #BestofBadminton #IndiaontheRise pic.twitter.com/pGLYSdMMM9
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) July 15, 2018
.@Pvsindhu1 couldn't cross the final hurdle against Nozomi Okuhara at the Thailand Open 2018. Congratulations on the 🥈#ThailandOpen pic.twitter.com/rPZu2E1fEQ
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) July 15, 2018
Nozomi Okuhara wins title**!**
This was pretty easy for the diminutive Japanese shuttler as she wears down Sindhu in straight games 21-15, 21-18 to win the women’s singles crown. She covered every inch of the court in both the games and didn’t allow Sindhu to take her chances from the backcourt. The netplay was just outstanding throughout the match.
14-14!
Okuhara decides to let the shuttle land just inside the backcourt line. Sindhu will take that happily. We are back level.
1⃣4⃣ - 1⃣2⃣!
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) July 15, 2018
Okuhara comes from behind to lead against Sindhu.#ThailandOpen
11-8!
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 15, 2018
Sindhu has a three-point lead over Okuhara at the mid-game break of the second game
No signs of long, tiring rallies #ThailandOpen2018
LIVE: https://t.co/gW9kRD9K0G
8-9! Okuhara goes for the attack and hits a flat smash. She isn’t not letting Sindhu set her rhythm.
Make that 9-9!
6-6!
A 36-shot rally turns in Okuhara’s favour. The Japanese shuttler is trying her traditional rally game to trouble Sindhu.
Okuhara wins first game: 21-15
The Japanese shuttler dominated the net right from the beginning to put Sindhu under pressure. Sindhu hasn’t been able to find angles to hit winners thanks to Okuhara’s court coverage.
19-15!
Sindhu hits the shuttle wide yet again. She hasn’t looked sharp from the back of the court.
11-8! And at the mid-game interval of the opening game, it's the reigning world champion Okuhara with a three-point advantage over Sindhu #ThailandOpen2018
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 15, 2018
LIVE: https://t.co/gW9kRD9K0G
PV Sindhu vs Nozomi Okuhara:
Sindhu and Okuhara share a 5-5 head-to-head record, and seem to have decided to alternate victories since the 2017 Singapore Open, in which the Indian had scored a last-gasp 22-20 win over the tiny Japanese. Okuhara had taken revenge by an identical third-game scoreline, in that unforgettable 21-19, 20-22, 22-20 World Championship final in Glasgow between two talented 22-year-olds.
Thereafter, Sindhu won another tough three-gamer in the Korea Open by a 21-18 third-game score, but then capitulated meekly by an 18-21, 8-21 margin in Okuhara’s home tournament, the Japan Open, in mid-September. Their clash at this year’s All England championships was yet another edge-of-the-seat cliff-hanger, with Sindhu staging a rearguard action and coming through at 20-22, 21-18, 21-18.
WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night 2 results: Cody Rhodes beats John Cena in wild title match
Brock Lesnar's return headlines Night Two of WWE Summerslam Cody Rhodes defeats John Cena to become the Undisputed WWE Champion Becky Lynch defeats Lyra Valkyria to stay Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
More Impact Shorts "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
 "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
Top Shows
