Day 2 report: Indian shuttler PV Sindhu won her second successive group stage match to qualify for the semi-finals but men’s singles star Kidambi Srikanth lost for the second time in succession to be out of the race for the last four stage of the World Superseries Finals here on Thursday. Sindhu crushed Japanese Sayaka Sato 21-13, 21-12 in 36 minutes to secure her second straight victory, eliminating Sayaka at the Hamadan Sports Complex. The Indian joined Japanese Akane Yamaguchi to advance to the semi-finals from Group ‘A’. Yamaguchi defeated He Bingjiao 21-14, 13-21, 21-8 to make it two wins from as many games, thereby cementing a spot in the semi-finals. With the defeat, Bingjiao was also knocked out having lost two matches. From Group B, Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon was also through to the semi-finals. Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying and Chen Yufei of China are still in contention but South Korean Sung ji Hyun has been eliminated. In the men’s singles, Srikanth lost to Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 18-21, 18-21. Chinese Shi Yuqi defeated Viktor Axelsen 13-21, 21-18, 21-17 to register his second successive victory, sealing a place in the last four stage. Axelsen had beaten Srikanth on the opening day. Chou Tien, who had lost to Yuqi on Wednesday, will face Axelsen on Friday and the winner will join the Chinese in the semi-finals. With inputs from IANS
Highlights, Dubai World Superseries Finals 2017: PV Sindhu remains unbeaten in group stages
FP Sports
• December 15, 2017, 23:00:24 IST
Catch the live score and updates from the Dubai World Superseries Finals 2017 where PV Sindhu and Kidambi srikanth will be in action
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December 15, 2017, 23:00:24 (IST)
That’s it from here as we have had a hat-trick of mixed days for Indian fans. While Sindhu remained unbeaten in yet another masterclass show against Akane Yamaguchi, Kidambi Srikanth remained winless in the group stages going down fighting in a three-game match against Shi Yuqi.
In the biggest upset of the day, World No 1 and defending champion Tai Tzu Ying failed to make the cut despite winning her match against Sung Ji Hyun.
Join us tomorrow for the semi-final action at the Dubai World Superseries where the top shuttlers in the world fight it out against each other to enter Sunday’s summit clash.
Thank you
December 15, 2017, 22:12:27 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 22:01:54 (IST)
Shi Yuqi beats Kidambi Srikanth 21-17, 19-21, 21-14 in 67 minutes to remain undefeated in the group stages.
December 15, 2017, 21:56:20 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 21:48:47 (IST)
11-6! Shi Yuqi now holds a 5-point advantage at the mid-game interval of the decider. Srikanth faces an uphill task
December 15, 2017, 21:46:54 (IST)
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December 15, 2017, 21:44:55 (IST)
4-3! Srikanth leads in the decider. But it is too early to call the match as there is little separating both these star players
December 15, 2017, 21:38:30 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 21:37:26 (IST)
Kidambi Srikanth wins 21-19! in the second game to enforce a decider
December 15, 2017, 21:32:56 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 21:25:45 (IST)
11-10! It is Shi Yuqi who goes into the mid-game interval with a solitary point advantage. The second game has seen a similar start like the first and the Chinese shuttler would aim for a similar end too
December 15, 2017, 21:05:45 (IST)
15-13! Shi Yuqi has taken the lead in the opening game after both players lost their serves alternatively
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December 15, 2017, 21:01:07 (IST)
10-10! Srikanth has levelled the scores in the opening game.
December 15, 2017, 20:58:06 (IST)
It is time for the match between Kidambi Srikanth and Shi Yuqi. Though this match has no bearing on the semi-final qualifications, Srikanth would prefer ending a phenomenal year on a high
December 15, 2017, 20:44:56 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 20:40:35 (IST)
20-15! Son Wan Ho on match point but Lee Chong Wei has staved off two match point opportunities from the Korean
December 15, 2017, 20:38:23 (IST)
19-13! Son Wan Ho continues to dictate proceedings in the decider but what a shot by Lee Chong Wei to win that previous point. A tweener executed to perfection should be the highlight of this otherwise dreary decider for the former World No 1 Malaysian
December 15, 2017, 20:24:45 (IST)
9-5! Son Wan Ho is continuing from where he left off in the second game to take an early lead in the decider.
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December 15, 2017, 20:19:06 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 20:16:59 (IST)
22-20! WHAT A COMEBACK!!!! Son Wan Ho pushes this match into a decider. He has given it all in this game to ensure Lee Chong Wei stays longer on the court and plays the decider. Remarkable performance from the Korean especially considering the fact that he was trailing 3-11 at the mid-game interval
December 15, 2017, 20:09:58 (IST)
18-18! Son Wan Ho has been insanely impressive post the interval. From 3-11, he has now levelled the scores. What a comeback!!! Is there a decider on the cards?
December 15, 2017, 20:08:38 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 19:55:14 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 19:51:43 (IST)
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December 15, 2017, 19:45:27 (IST)
In the match between former World No 1’s Lee Chong Wei holds a one-game advantage over Son Wan Ho after winning 21-13 in the first game
December 15, 2017, 19:23:05 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 19:22:52 (IST)
Sindhu wins yet another group stage match in 36 minutes. She breezes past Akane Yamaguchi 21-9, 21-13 to be the only women’s singles player to remain undefeated in the group stages of the Dubai World Superseries Finals 2017
December 15, 2017, 19:15:13 (IST)
18-12! Sindhu has been continuously working on ensuring to end on the right side of those long rallies orchestrated by the Japanese shuttler. She is now three points away from scripting yet another dominant victory at the Dubai Superseries
December 15, 2017, 19:12:56 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 19:10:17 (IST)
13-9! The scores are still in favour of Sindhu who is expertly negotiating the change in strategy by Yamaguchi who has been increasing the rallies trying to wither down the Olympic silver medallist
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December 15, 2017, 19:08:26 (IST)
11-8! It is a 3-point advantage for Sindhu at the mid-game interval. Yamaguchi is well and into the game this time as compared to the previous one. Will Yamaguchi persist to push this match into a decider or will Sindhu enter the knockouts unbeaten from the league stages
December 15, 2017, 19:04:44 (IST)
7-5! This is now the longest rally as the 33-shot point ends in Sindhu’s favour when Yamaguchi’s shot goes wide.
December 15, 2017, 19:04:05 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 19:01:36 (IST)
4-4! What a rally there! The longest rally of the match saw both players trading smashes and slices but the highlight of that point would be the yet another refereeing error that is challenged successfully by Yamaguchi to level the scores
December 15, 2017, 18:57:02 (IST)
1-1! Yamaguchi kick-starts proceedings in the 2nd game and wins the first point but hits the next shot wide away to relinquish the serve almost immediately
December 15, 2017, 18:53:38 (IST)
21-9! Sindhu completely outplayed the Japanese shuttler in that lopsided opening game. Yamaguchi has to bring to the fore all the weapons in her arsenal to push this match into the decider
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December 15, 2017, 18:49:43 (IST)
16-5! Sindhu continues to dominate proceedings as an exasperated Yamaguchi hits yet another unforced error to allow the Indian to run away with the opening game
December 15, 2017, 18:48:17 (IST)
December 15, 2017, 18:46:38 (IST)
11-1! Well the scoreline describes the performance much better than any combination of adjectives. Sindhu is in imperious form
December 15, 2017, 18:43:35 (IST)
5-1! Yamaguchi wins her first point of the match after a Sindhu return meets the net
End of Liveblog