World Badminton Championships 2019 Highlights, semi-finals: PV Sindhu, Nozomi Okuhara enter final; B Sai Praneeth earns bronze

Okuhara beats Intanon: 17-21, 21-18, 21-15

The Japanese wizard scripts a fantastic comeback victory against the 2013 world champion to enter the women’s singles final. Intanon looked like she’s going to wrap it up in straight games at 18-18 in the second game, but Okuhara’s steely defence made the difference.

It’s going to be a repeat of 2017 World Championships final tomorrow as Okuhara takes on PV Sindhu. It was not long ago when the duo engaged in a marathon encounter two campaigns ago.

Okuhara forces a decider! 

The Japanese shuttler made perfect use of her composed retrieving ability to break the deadlock at 18-18 and snatch the second game. Deciding game incoming. This is arguably the best match of the day.

Update: 

Ratchanok Intanon wins the opening game 21-17

Proper end-to-end stuff. Okuhara bagged nine straight points from 8-12 down. Intanon replied by bagging ninestraight points from 12-17 down to take the first game.

Meanwhile, its the battle of the former world champions in the second women’s singles semi-finals between Ratchanok Intanon and Nozomi Okuhara. 

12-12! We may see a decider in this match…

Fairytale run, of course. A good effort nonetheless. 

Hard luck champ! 🙌👏

Kento Momta halted @saiprneeth92's fairytale run at the #BWFWorldChampionships2019 with a scoreline of 2⃣1⃣-1⃣3⃣, 2⃣1⃣-0⃣8⃣.

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) August 24, 2019

Momota enters final! 

Kento Momota hardly broke a sweat against Sai Praneeth as the reigning world champion registers a dominating 21-13, 21-8 win. Was Momota even playing at his best or was Praneeth flustered after the first game? The Japanese mixed his shots judiciously in the first game and played more freely from the forecourt. 

Praneeth will be happy with a historic bronze medal. Tough luck!

Praneeth 8-19 Momota

The Japanese has been very clinical. He just floats around the court. Praneeth clearly doesn’t have the answers as he’s limited to loft the shuttle from the backcourt.

Praneeth 6-17 Momota

Praneeth has been too slow on the counter, making the task easier for Momota. The Japanese is able to move freely from front to back.

Praneeth 5-15 Momota

Momota takes the Indian by surprise there. He engages in a quality rally and smartly finds a spot to hit a down-the-line smash.

Momota is closing in for a place in the final unless Praneeth springs a surprise 

11-3! Momota has successfully managed to find angles to hit winners. A seven-point lead for the defending champion

Praneeth hasn't been able to trouble Momota from the backcourt. Easy ride for the Japanese so far

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— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) August 24, 2019

Praneeth 2-9 Momota

A six-point lead for the Japanese. It looks like a cakewalk for Momota now. He’s been a lot more compact and is barely tested at the net.

Praneeth 2-6 Momota

The defending champion cuts down on rallies and attacks the forehand drives to unsettle Praneeth, who looks out of ideas to make a response.

Praneeth 2-1 Momota

The Indian is looking to attack Momota’s deep forehand corner to create an opening for attacking strokes. It’ll be interesting to see how the first of the second game pans out for Praneeth. Remember, Momota has the ability to cover the court swiftly.

Momota bags first game: 21-13

Praneeth flounders after the mid-game break as Momota bags the opening game 21-13 in a jiffy. The World No 1 avoids engaging in rallies by pouncing on lose shots by Praneeth. 

The second game gets underway

Praneeth 12-19 Momota

Four shots straight at the net! That’s unacceptable against Momota. He has successfully pushed Praneeth towards the backcourt, where the Indian seems uncomfortable.

Praneeth 12-17 Momota

The gap is huge and Praneeth is feeling the pressure. He hits the net twice in a row now to gift his opponent crucial points. He’s got to step up.

Praneeth 10-15 Momota

Five straight points for the Japanese. He looks in control of the rallies and has avoided going for the tramlines.

Still anyone’s game from here… 

Kento Momota with a slender 1-point lead at the mid-game break of the opening game

Praneeth has defended smartly from the backcourt. His attacking strokes have troubled the World No 1 on multiple occasions

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— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) August 24, 2019

Praneeth 10-10 Momota

 Great defensive work from Praneeth! Momota’s crosscourt smash is defended beautifully by the Indian. He returns the shuttle with a delicate push at the net.

Praneeth 7-9 Momota

Momota is unbeatable at the net. Praneeth tries to hit push-clears but the Japanese was quick to react and hit a booming smash to extend his lead.

Praneeth 6-6 Momota

Praneeth is guiding the shuttle towards Momota’s forecourt. That’s the right thing to do against Momota. It’s all square now.

Praneeth 5-3 Momota 

The Indian has remained patient against all his opponents in Basel. He doesn’t like to defend much. Both players like to play it short.

The build-up: Praneeth vs Momota

No one expected Praneeth to reach this far in the tournament. However, he has made a perfect use of the opportunity with his composed and balanced gameplay to earn a medal. He is yet to drop a game in Basel. 

Defending champion Momota has the answers to everything. The World No 1 has trounced opponents left, right and center in the past, but he had to fight it out against Praneeth. He leads 3-2 in the overall head-to-head meetings.

Update:

Second seeds Fukushima-Hirota beat Li-Du of China 21-11, 21-17 to enter the women’s doubles final

Highlights | It's a third straight World Championships final for Pusarla 🇮🇳 after the fine win over Chen Yu Fei 🇨🇳

Follow LIVE: https://t.co/WsMODjx70b#TOTALBWFWC2019 #Basel2019 pic.twitter.com/VW0kuAw5G6

— BWF (@bwfmedia) August 24, 2019

No doubt Sindhu has had a topsy-turvy season this year, but she’s proved her worth when it mattered the most. That’s how she has been on the court. She is yet to be defeated by a Chinese shuttler at the Worlds.

Yes, she’s been there before. Only time will tell, honestly. 

PV Sindhu makes it to the World Championship finals! Golden chance to get the monkey off her back #WorldBadminton

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 24, 2019

Sensational victory for the 24-year-old! 

Game set & Match! 😍🏸@Pvsindhu1 hammers Chen Yu Fei with a dominating 2⃣1⃣-0⃣7⃣, 2⃣1⃣-1⃣4⃣ victory and powers herself into the finals of the #BWFWorldChampionships2019! 🙌😍

— Premier Badminton League (@PBLIndiaLive) August 24, 2019

PV Sindhu storms into the final! 

That was 40 minutes of pure attacking badminton by Sindhu. She outclasses World No 3 effortlessly to reach her third straight World Championships final. Chen looked out of touch throughout the match.

Sindhu 20-14 Chen

The Chinese yet again manages to win two quick points. Consolation, maybe?

Sindhu 19-12 Chen

Chen finally manages to win two consecutive points in this whole match. A little too late then. It’s only been 38 minutes. Sindhu’s match to lose.

Sindhu 18-9 Chen

Not the best of displays from the Chinese shuttler. She misses another chance to earn an easy point.

Sindhu 15-9 Chen 

The Indian is all charged-up, while Chen’s body language screams of desperation. Sindhu has got to stay focused.

Sindhu 14-7 Chen

Three straight points for Sindhu since the interval. Chen has hit the net on multiple occasions now. Her coaches look dejected.

Sindhu has complete control of the shuttle and it shows! 

11-7!

Sindhu hasn't allowed Chen to settle in this match. She leads at the mid-game interval of the second game

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— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) August 24, 2019

Sindhu 7-5 Chen

The Chinese challenges but it’s unsuccessful. Sindhu maintains her two-point lead. Surprisingly, the drift inside the arena hasn’t played its part.

Sindhu 5-3 Chen

Chen has started to hit with conviction but she’s got to do more to unsettle the Indian. Sindhu is known to improve her attacking gameplay in the second game.

Sindhu 3-2 Chen

Some great flicks to begin with in the second game. Both players can play from the net and can engage in long rallies.

PV Sindhu wraps up the first game: 21-17

A slew of questions will be asked about Chen Yufei’s errors from the mid-court area. She hasn’t been able to retrieve swiftly in the opening game. Meanwhile, Sindhu’s variety of attacking strokes did the damage. 

The second game gets underway!

Sindhu 20-6 Chen

Another error from the Chinese. Nervy strokes from all around the court. Gamepoint for high-flying Sindhu.

Sindhu 17-4 Chen

The Chinese shuttler has committed way too many errors. She has overhit quite a few shots from the backcourt.

Sindhu 14-3 Chen

Chen hits a push clear on the backcourt. Sindhu challenges and wins it. She has managed the court coverage with ease.

Sindhu leads the way at the mid-game break!  

Sindhu dominates the first half of the opening game!

She leads 11-3 at the mid-game break against an off-colour Chen Yufei

LIVE: https://t.co/MmjRBkLsWj#BWC2019 #TOTALBWFWC2019

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) August 24, 2019

Sindhu 10-3 Chen

And a 27-shot rally turns in Sindhu’s favour. She is toying around at the moment. Chen’s retrieving skills have been put to test by the Indian.

Sindhu 8-2 Chen

The Chinese lacks a good reach and Sindhu has taken complete advantage of that. Sindhu looks quicker on the net.

Sindhu 5-2 Chen

Sindhu extends her lead with a clean crosscourt smash. Chen was stretched at the backcourt. And now Sindhu wins another point with a forehand smash. Smashes galore!

Sindhu 2-1 Chen

The Indian has started brilliantly. Her body language is not as stoic as we witnessed over the course of 4 days in Basel.

WATCH: 

How PV Sindhu edged past Tai Tzu Ying! 

Performance of the Day | An impressive Pusarla V. Sindhu 🇮🇳 wraps up a nail-biting decider versus Tai Tzu Ying 🏸#TOTALBWFWC2019 #Basel2019 #TOTALbadminton pic.twitter.com/T1fBBjCr9F

— BWF (@bwfmedia) August 24, 2019

Sindhu vs Chen

Sindhu is playing the semi-final at the World Championships for the third straight year, and the two-time silver medallist is looking to reach her third straight final. Under the watchful eyes of Pullela Gopichand and South Korean coach Kim Ji Hyun, Sindhu, who has already assured herself a fifth medal at the World Championships, will try to dominate Chen Yufei right from the word go.

The build-up: Sindhu vs Chen

Sindhu leads the overall head-to-head meetings against Chen. The Indian came out victorious in straight games in their previous encounter at the Indonesia Open. 

The lanky shuttler’s approach sets the tone for her to mix her shots judiciously. It’ll be interesting to see how she manages to outplay the skilfull Chen. 

Sindhu’s win over Tai Tau Ying meant that she has won a medal in every major competition she has participated in since the 2016 Rio Olympics where she won the silver medal after losing the final against Spain’s Carolina Marin.

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of BWF World Championships. It’s the semi-finals day and we’ve got loads of interesting clashes throughout the day. Today’s focus will be on Indian shuttlers as PV Sindhu takes on Chen Yufei, while B Sai Praneeth faces a tough challenge against World No 1 and defending champion Kento Momota. 

Stay tuned for all the live updates!