Highlights, Dubai World Superseries Finals 2017: PV Sindhu wins 1st match, Kidambi Srikanth loses to Viktor Axelsen
Catch all the live scores and updates from Day 1 of the Dubai World Superseries Finals as Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu will be in action in the first round.
 "Highlights, Dubai World Superseries Finals 2017: PV Sindhu wins 1st match, Kidambi Srikanth loses to Viktor Axelsen")
With that, we come to the end ofDay 1 of the Dubai World Superseries Finals. It was a mixed day for Indian fans as Sindhu’s victory over He Bingjiao was immediately followed by Kidambi Srikanth’s loss to World No 1 Viktor Axelsen in straight games.
Thank you for joining us for today’s action and we will be back tomorrow for the second day’s action where Sindhu will take on Sayaka Sato while Srikanth would like to change his fortunes in his match against Chou Tien Chen
What a comeback by the World No 1!!! Tai Tzu Ying once again prevails in a three-game encounter to defeat Chen Yufei 15-21, 21-12, 21-17
Tai Tzu wins the second game 21-12 to push this match against Chen Yufei into the decider
Chen Yufei wins the opening game 21-15!
Chen Yufei was the better player in that opening game for long stretches of play. Though Tai Tzu tried to put up a resurgence of sorts, it was a case of too little too early as the Chinese shuttler clinched the 1st game
In the final singles match of the day World No 1 Tai Tzu Ying takes on Chen Yufei
It is defending champion @ViktorAxelsen who wins that match 21-13, 21-17 defeating #KidambiSrikanth in 38 minutes
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx #DubaiSSF pic.twitter.com/G08qaGSjlF
The defending champion Viktor Axelsen defeats Kidambi Srikanth 21-13, 21-17 in a 38-minute encounter to make a winning start to his campaign at the Dubai World Superseries Finals
19-15! Axelsen in the lead but Srikanth seems to be on an upsurge. Will the Indian push this match into the decider or will the Dane win the match
15-12! Axelsen looks to run away with the game courtesy his towering smashes. Srikanth is working his way back but Axelsen is thwarting any kind of comeback from the Indian ace
11-10! Srikanth wins four successive points to reduce Axelsen’s lead. He has upped the pace of the game after the break
11-6! Two continuous unforced errors from Srikanth gives Axelsen a 5-point advantage in the second game. Kidambi Srikanth who is returning from an injury lay-off looks to be out-of-sorts so far in this game
8-6! Srikanth is making his way back into the match, but that Axelsen smash that falls just inside the line wins him back the serve
6-3! Srikanth is trying to make inroads into the game, but Axelsen manages to hold a comfortable lead in the second game
4-0! In a repeat of the opening game, Viktor Axelsen takes an early lead in the second
Viktor Axelsen wins the opening game 21-13. Though Srikanth did manage a revival of sorts after trailing 0-4 to go into the mid-game interval with a 2-point lead, it was an Axelsen show thereafter as he smashed his way to win the game
18-12! It has been an Axelsen show after the interval. Srikanth is failing to answer the Dane’s powerful smashes all across the court
17-12! Kidambi Srikanth is making a lot more unforced errors as compared to Viktor Axelsen who has taken a 5-point lead in the opening game
13-11! Yet another smash and yet another point for the World No 1 who is slowly opening up the lead
12-11! Axelsen smashes his way to level the scores against Kidambi Srikanth and follows it with yet another jump smash to take the lead in this topsy turvy opening game
11-9! Srikanth with a 2-point advantage at the mid-game interval of the opening game. Both players have dominated proceedings in various phases of the game.
9-4! The Srikanth express continues to amass points on a whim as he scores eight points on the trot to open a 4-point lead over Axelsen
2-1! Axelsen starts off proceedings with 2 points on the trot followed by Kidambi winning one to kick-start his account
It is time for the men’s singles action. World No 1 Viktor Axelsen takes on World No 4 Kidambi Srikanth in the Group B encounter
It is India's @Pvsindhu1 who wins that intense 63-minute encounter 21-11, 16-21, 21-18 against He Bingjiao. pic.twitter.com/emprvVQou6
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
PV Sindhu wins 21-11, 16-21, 21-18! in a thrilling 63-minute encounter with China’s He Bingjiao. Sindhu begins her Dubai World Superseries Finals campaign with a well-deserved and a well-fought victory
20-18! Fantastic shots from Bingjiao to stay alive in the game. A slice, a smash and a cross-court winner. Bingjiao has truly upped the ante, but is it a case of it being a little too late in the game?
20-16! Match-point opportunity for PV Sindhu
18-16! Excellent judgment by Sindhu to let that shot away as she takes a 2-point lead in the decider
17-16! Bingjiao is adding pressure on #PVSindhu with the Indian shuttler holding a solitary point advantage
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx
16-14! Sindhu loses a challenge referral as the call of “out’ is validated by the TV umpires. Bingjiao is slowly making her way back into the match
15-12! Sindhu still in the lead but Bingjiao has rallied her way back into the match. It is the unforced errors that looks to be Bingjiao's undoing
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx #PVSindhu
14-10! One more powerful smash from Sindhu gives her a 4-point lead in the decider
11-7! One more unforced error from Bingjiao gives Sindhu a 4-point lead in the mid-game break of the decider. Most returns from Bingjiao has been quite a distance away from the sidelines.
9-7! That was a rather tame end to that rally. Sindhu hits an unforced error to give Bingjiao the serve in the decider
9-6! That cross-court smash from Sindhu left Bingjiao outstretched on the mat. What a shot!
8-6! Bingjiao couldn't return that slice shot from #pvsindhu and has allowed the Indian ace to take the lead in the decider
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF
8-6! Bingjiao couldn't return that slice shot from #pvsindhu and has allowed the Indian ace to take the lead in the decider
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF
6-5! That was one well-placed winner from Sindhu to take the lead in the decider. This is still anybody’s game
5-4! What an attacking smash from #PVSindhu and following it with a well-placed drop shot to go one point closer to Bingjiao
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF
4-2! That jump smash from Bingjiao meets Sindhu’s outstretched racquet, but the return meets the net to give the Chinese shuttler a 2-point lead
3-2! It is Bingjiao who holds the advantage in the decider, but it has been a closely contested game so far
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF #PVSindhu
2-1! The decider starts off with both players losing serve alternatively in a bid to ascertain dominance early in the game
21-16! It is Bingjiao who wins the second game. The match will now have a decider. The Chinese shuttler seemed to be a changed player in the second game after being taken down with relative ease by Sindhu in the opening game
21-16! It is Bingjiao who wins the second game. The match will now have a decider. The Chinese shuttler seemed to be a changed player in the second game after being taken down with relative ease by Sindhu in the opening game
19-14! Sindhu’s game seems all over the place as Bingjiao has taken the match under her control and looks to push this into the decider
17-14! Sindhu stems Bingjiao’s point spree as she wins her first point after Bingjiao won four points on the trot
14-13! Bingjiao seems to be much more in control than her Indian opponent. But Sindhu is giving it her all to end this match in this game
12-11! Sindhu takes the lead for the first time in the second game. Will this match be a 2-game affair or is a decider on the cards?
11-9! Yet another climb from Sindhu to go within two points of Bingjiao in the second game. It is advantage Bingjiao and she will look to step on the accelerator and push this match into a decider
10-7! Sindhu levelled the scores briefly but Bingjiao has once again taken the lead over the Indian ace
7-4! He Bingjiao continues to hold the lead. An excellent rally comes to an end with a cross-court winner from Bingjiao to gain a 3-point lead in the second game
5-4! After racing to a 4-0 lead in the second game, He Bingjiao has hit a lot more unforced errors to allow Sindhu to make her way back into the match
4-0! He Bingjiao has opened an early lead in the second game. She has upped her pace after that set break
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF
21-11! PV Sindhu wraps up the game in just 14 minutes to hold the advantage in the opening game. It has been a Sindhu spectacle so far with the Indian ace hardly questioned by the Chinese shuttler
19-8! Sindhu wins six points on the trot to race to earn a 11-point lead in the opening game. It is an uphill task for Bingjiao to make a comeback in the opening game against the Olympic silver medallisgt
12-7! Sindhu wins the first point after the interval with a towering smash that is followed by a Bingjiao return that is just away from the sidelines
11-7! #PVSindhu goes into the mid-game break with a 4-point advantage. Sindhu seems much more settled and confident than her Chinese opponent
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF
9-5! Sindhu opens up an early lead by dictating the proceedings over the last few points. The Indian ace is using her height to disallow Bingjiao from settling down in the game
6-5! What an intense net-play by both shuttlers. Bingjiao wins the point with that smash from the net, but Sindhu still in the lead
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF #PVSindhu
5-3! What a point by Sindhu. After being stretched to her limits in the previous drop shot from Bingjiao, Sindhu returns the favour with a drop shot of her own to increase the lead in the opening game
3-2! After losing the first two points, Sindhu wins 3 straight points to take the lead in the opening game
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 13, 2017
LIVE: https://t.co/6r2pyAWzmx#DubaiSSF #PVSindhu
2-0! Bingjiao gets the first point of the match following an unforced error from Sindhu. The Chinese shuttler follows it with a well-placed smash within the sidelines to double the lead
Next up in #DubaiSSF, PV Sindhu takes on China's He Bingjiao. Cheer for our champion with us!
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) December 13, 2017
It is back to the singles action at the Dubai World Superseries Finals. India’s PV Sindhu takes on China’s He Bingjiao in the second Group A encounter for the day.
Earlier today, Akane Yamaguchi beat Sayaka Sato 21-12, 21-19 in the other Group A match
The Indonesian pair of Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir win 21-18, 18-21, 21-14 in a 62-minute encounter against Chris and Gabby Adcock.
This will be the last tournament in the present BWF Superseries format. 2018 will have a revamped schedule. Here’s a read about it.
Superseries to be replaced with ‘World Tour’ in 2018 as BWF chalks out revamped, cramped calendarhttp://www.firstpost.com
A great recovery by the Adcocks against Ahmad & Natsir to take the match into the decider. Second game to the English pair 21-18 . #DubaiSSF
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) December 13, 2017
21-18! The Adcocks stay alive in the game and force this match into a decider. A close second game, but the Indonesian pair were never allowed to take the lead.
The British pair of Chris and Gabby Adcock are fighting their way back into the match after losing the opening game 21-18 to the Indonesian pair of Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir. The Adcocks go into the mid-game interval with a 4-point lead at 11-7!
The battle for the crown in the #DubaiSSF is going to be a heated contest. Which of these heavyweights will go on to win the title? pic.twitter.com/fYLLQvxIlj
— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) December 13, 2017
Time for a break!
The doubles encounters are underway and the singles clashes will resume in a couple of hours. PV Sindhu will begin the proceedings with her Group A match against China’s He Bingjiao, and this match will be immediately followed by the Men’s singles match between India’s Kidambi Srikanth and Denmark’s VIktor Axelsen.
Join us in a couple of hours for the live score and updates from the Dubai World Superseries Finals.
Ratchanok Intanon has beat Sung Ji Hyun 21-19, 21-16 in the opening game to facilitate a brisk start to her Dubai World Superseries campaign.
Though Sung Ji led 6-1 in the opening game, Intanon made an effective comeback to go into the mid-game interval with a 2-point lead. From there, it was all Intanon in the opening game despite Sung Ji trying to bridge the deficit winning five points on the trot. In the end, it was Intanon who won the first game and carried the momentum into the second game. Though it was evenly poised in the initial moments of the game, with both players trading points one after the other, Intanon took the lead at 8-7 and never gave it up till the final score read 21-16
In the first women’s singles Group B encounter, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon wins the first game 21-19 against Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun
Time for a break!
The first session of the opening day has come to an end. In the next half, which starts around 2:30 pm IST, Ratchanok Intanon takes on Sung Ji Hyun (Group B), PV Sindhu faces He Bingjiao (Group A) and Tai Tzu Ying will be up against Chen Yufei (Group B)
In the men’s singles, Viktor Axelsen plays against Kidambi Srikanth in a Group B clash.
GROUP A – Lee Chong Wei beats Ng Ka Long Angus: 21-14, 21-13
The Malaysian ace faced a tough battle in the opening round as Ng had a two-point lead at 8-6. However, after the mid-game interval, it was Lee who took the game away from his opponent to take a 1-0 lead. Lee ran away with the lead in the second game and never really allowed Ng to bounce back.
In the men’s singles department, Shi Yuqi defeated Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 21-17 in the first Group B clash. The women’s singles section saw Akane Yamaguchi get the better of Sayaka Sato 21-12, 21-19.
Meanwhile in Group A, Lee Chong Wei has taken a 1-0 lead against Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong after winning the opening game 21-14.
Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the Dubai World Superseries Finals. We will bring you the live scores and updates from a host of mouth-watering fixtures as world’s top shuttlers cross swords in the final Superseries event of the calendar year.
So, stick around and cheer for your favourite shuttler!
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