Highlights India Open 2017, badminton scores and updates: PV Sindhu beats Saina Nehwal, Sameer Verma bows out

Anders Antonsen was higher ranked but Sameer had shown enough skill over the first two rounds to raise the belief that a semis spot was in the running. But the Dane showed his finishing touch to win the 2nd game 21-19 and clinch the match and a place in the semi-finals.

Winner of the Syed Modi GP Gold, Sameer has displayed some wonderful temperament and strokes. But to show ambition and actually advancing to the semi-finals requires to win the important points. At 18 all and then giving the advantage to Anders at 19-18, Sameer needs to get his game back and quickly.

Three point lead for Sameer. This game is important to draw level and take Anders to a 3rd game.

Surprisingly, Antonsen leads 11-10 at the break of the second game. Both shuttlers are giving their everything to claim this important game. All eyes will be on Sameer!

Sameer Verma strikes back! Wins five consecutive points to unsettle Antonsen as he leads 8-5 in the second game. This is Sameer’s chance to attack and maintain a healthy lead.

Antonsen is really taking this game on his own as he claims three consecutive points to take a 5-2 lead in the second game against Sameer.

Sameer Verma loses the hard fought opening game 24-22 #IndiaSS #IndiaMeSmash

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) March 31, 2017

Anders Antonsen takes the first game: 24-22

Sameer Verma looked nervous towards the end of the first game which eventually distracted him after taking a 19-17 lead. The second game is underway

PV Sindhu enters semi-finals: 21-16, 22-20

Massive win for the 21-year-old shuttler as she snatches it late to end Saina’s India Open campain with an emphatic victory in straight games. A matured performance by Sindhu today.

Great game, better sportsmanship!

And in the end they shake hands after giving a treat. Thank you @NSaina and @Pvsindhu1. One won but India celebrates both. ✌ #IndiaMeSmash pic.twitter.com/Udf2v6j8Nl

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) March 31, 2017

Sameer Verma leads in opening game against Denmark’s Anders Antonsen

Having trailed for most part of the first game in this big men’s singles quarterfinal, Sameer Verma has turned things around to take a 11-8 lead in the opening game

Sameer Verma takes a slender 12-10 lead against Antonsen. Will he win this?

Its not a huge defeat for Saina Nehwal. Coming back after a knee surgery, she showed enough courage to take the fight to Sindhu. And would have wrapped up the 2nd game but for a few errors. As she said yesterday, the future is about getting ready for the World Championships. For her fans, they would be happy seeing she is back and fighting to regain her supremacy back on court.

PV Sindhu enters semi-finals: 21-16, 22-20

Massive win for the 21-year-old shuttler as she snatches it late to end Saina’s India Open campain with an emphatic victory in straight games. A matured performance by Sindhu today.

The second game was 28 minutes of incredible shots, rallies and some beautiful cross court smashes. In the end, Sindhu’s staying power combined with that belief that comes after playing an Olympic final made her cross the finish line.

Suddenly its turned over. Match point to Sindhu. And she takes it with a smash. Great QF. Its a superb comeback and Sindhu is in the India Open semifinals.

Its 19 all. Sindhu has the serve. And now its game point to Saina.

Two points away from taking the Olympic finalist to a 3rd game.

Saina Nehwal is just two points away from winning the second game. 19-17 to Saina!

How much has this game taken out of both the champions? If this goes to a 3rd…will Saina have gas in the tank? Sindhu would want to end it here. Saina leads by three points – 19-16.

Sindhu is crawling back. Point by point. Its 16-15 to Saina.

Saina Nehwal vs PV Sindhu

Saina Nehwal is trying her level best to get back into the match! She leads 15-12 in the second game.

What an amazing match this is turning out to be! 

Terrific reflex action from Saina puts Sindhu in the blindspot. Its 14-11. Close game. A few more points and it will be tense.

Sindhu picks up two points. Cutting scores down to 9-13. The lead is with Saina. Needs to watch the backhand. Sailed over the baseline twice.

Saina’s knees are holding. A lunge gives her a point at the net. And then its 11-7 to Saina at the break. The first game duration was 19 mins. This is already 12!!

Saina’s knees are holding. A lunge gives her a point at the net. And then its 11-7 to Saina at the break. The first game duration was 19 mins. This is already 12!!

Surely, the battle between the best! Both Saina and Sindhu showcasing some fine badminton skills! #IndiaSS #IndiaMeSmash

— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) March 31, 2017

Its a huge match for both. Leave the tag of it being a QF. Its about reputation. Its about a former world no 1 taking on the Olympic silver medallist. Saina leads 9-6.

PV Sindhu wins opening game against Saina Nehwal 21-16

Too many unforced errors from Saina Nehwal has handed the opening game to Sindhu. The game was a very tight affair until the interval of the first game. Second game begins now

Saina Nehwal vs PV Sindhu
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Fantastic game of badminton between the two. The tiring rallies have started to entertain a house full Siri Fort Sports Complex! Saina leads 6-5

All pointers to a cliffhanger in the 2nd game. Its 6-5 to Saina. And then comes the smash to make it 7-5.

Saina led 4-1 before a huge smash and a backhand drop brings the score to 3-4 for Sindhu.

Interesting that Sindhu wants to slow the pace down while Saina is going for quick rallies and looks to finish off the points. It’s paying dividends as Saina leads 3-1.

PV Sindhu wins opening game against Saina Nehwal 21-16

Too many unforced errors from Saina Nehwal has handed the opening game to Sindhu. The game was a very tight affair until the interval of the first game. Second game begins now

Sindhu wins the first game at 21-16. Huge step in taking the match. Even though Saina has all the capabilities to stretch it to a third. But Sindhu will be high on confidence and it seems she has the length of the court, thus the confidence of the high tosses.

Brilliant show by PV Sindhu there as she looked tired at the start but slowly read Saina’s game. The second game gets underway!

GAME POINT! Sindhu has four game points and has been flawless in the game so far

Sindhu finally gets a point to lead 19-14. Great opportunity for her to close this game out. But the former World Champion still fights back to 16-19.

Carolina Marin enters semis; beats Mitani Minatsu: 21-10, 20-22, 21-14

Marin’s run of straight games win was stopped by Minatsu but unfortunately the Spanish ace dominated the third game to enter the semifinals of Yonex-Sunrise India Open.

18-13! PV Sindhu has pulled away. A couple of errors in judgment and a wayward smash from Saina has left her chasing Sindhu in this opening game. The Olympic silver-medalist though has done really well to capitalise on those errors and is in the driving seat in the opening game

Interesting how Sindhu is using the high toss serve forcing Saina to come to the net. Sindhu leads 17-11 and should close the game on her form at the moment.

At the break of the 1st game Sindhu leads 11-9. Explosive start to the much anticipated QF. Nehwal starts of briskly leading 7-5. Sindhu played a game of containing her and then with a few lovely drops and cross court smashes took the lead.

11-9! PV Sindhu takes a two-point lead at the interval in the first game. Sindhu pulled away slightly in the last few points, but there has been nothing between the two players so far

PV SIndhu vs Saina Nehwal off to an intriguing start!

7-7! Nothing to choose between the two Indians as they have matched each other blow to blow thus far. The crowd has got into the occassion and are making lot of noise at the Siri Fort stadium in New Delhi. Saina led 7-5 at a point of time, but Sindhu hit back to level things up again. Great game so far

Marin is too good on the drop and takes the lead 20-19. It’s back to 20-20. Minatsu needs to close this at 21-20. And she wins the 2nd game at 22-20. It’s the 3rd now and Marin finally has a challenge at the India Open.

It’s 18 all. Can the Japanese take this match to the 3rd game and stretch the Olympic champion?

This is going to be close. Minatsu leading 18-16 needs to hold her nerve and stay away from the net. Marin keeping the play confined to the mid court in an effort to pick up points.

Marin needs to play at the net if she wants to wrap it in two games. Minatsu pushing the Spanish champion to the baseline. Marin doesn’t like it there. As the overhead smashes are picked up by Minatsu.

Marin being stretched in the 2nd game. Would be exciting if the Japanese Minatsu takes it to a 3rd. The first was a bit easy for the Olympic Champion as she reeled off the points winning 21-10. But Minatsu using the high toss to good effect and taking a 11-10 lead.

Carolina Marin thrashes Minatsu in first game: 21-10

It is fair to say that Marin is untouchable when it comes to attacking and net plays. Minatsu was left amazed with Marin’s drop shots. The second game is underway!

Carolina Marin thrashes Minatsu in first game: 21-10

It is fair to say that Marin is untouchable when it comes to attacking and net plays. Minatsu was left amazed with Marin’s drop shots. The second game is underway!

Carolina Marin in action against Minatsu Mitani

Spanish ace Marin leads 11-9 in the first game of the quarterfinals of the women’s singles. Her court coverage so far has been accurate!

Get ready to witness the clash of the day as Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu will be in action soon!

Viktor Axelsen beats Tzu Wei: 19-21, 21-14, 21-15

Axelsen came from a game down beat Tzu Wei in three games and enters the semi-finals of the men’s singles. Yet again, he was quick near the forecourt and his jump smashes were unplayable in the third game!

It’s neck-and-neck in the third game as the scores are tied on 14 each! Regardless of whoever qualifies, one thing is certain that Tzu Wei is a great attacking player.

Viktor Axelsen wins second game: 21-14

Some amazing footwork and accurate net-plays by Axelsen took the second game away from Wei. Third game to decide the first men’s semi-finalist!

Okuhara Nozomi makes it 1-1, wins 21-11

After losing the first game, Nozomi claims the second to force this all-Japanese quarterfinals clash in the deciding game!

Viktor Axelsen isn’t the one who will give up easily! He claws back in the second game as he leads by 8-2. Three-game thriller on the cards?

Wang Tzu Wei takes first game: 21-19

What a performance by the unseeded Wei! The Chinese Taipei shuttler has completely unsettled Axelsen in the first game of the men’s quarterfinals. Are we in for an upset?

Elsewhere in the women’s singles, Yamaguchu Akane wins the first game 21-13 against Okuhara Nozomi. Both Japanese shuttlers are facing each other for the ninth time. Interestingly, Nozomi leads 6-2 in the head-to-head meetings.

After a slow start Viktor Axelsen leads 11-9 at the break of the first game against Tzu Wei. Too many errors from the Dane in the first five minutes but he looks back on track now!

Viktor Axelsen vs Tzu Wei Wang

Next up, Danish ace Viktor Axelsen faces unseeded Tzu Wei Wang of Chinese Taipei in the men’s singles event!

V Shem Goh and Wee Kiong TAN beat LI Junhui China Liu Yuchen: 21-15; 21:17

Top seed V Shem/Wee Kiong enter the semi-finals of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open with an emphatic win straight games. The duo never looked tired and continued to dominate in both the games!

Sung Ji Hyun reaches women’s singles semifinals

Second seed Sung Ji Hyun beats defending champions Ratchanok Intanon 21-16, 22-20 in the first quarterfinal of the day

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the India Open 2017. Today’s matches include the blockbuster quarter-final between PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. 

Stay tuned for regular scores and updates from all the matches through the day.