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World No.10 PV Sindhu fought a valiant battle against a determined Ji Hyun Sung before succumbing 23-25, 20-22 to exit the Denmark Open in the quarterfinals. Sindhu lead in both the games, before Sung worked her way back each time to steal a march on the young Indian. It was enervating battle between two evenly matched players, who burnt more than their fair share of calories in a hour long duel that was compelling to watch. If anything, Sindhu can take heart from the match knowing that she is ever so close to the top women in her sport.
Despite the difference in their rankings, 10th ranked Sindhu was yet to lose to her higher ranked opponent. Ji Hyun Sung was offered a lesson in aggression when the two met last at the French Open a year ago. The fourth seeded Korean had lost 8 & 12 on that occasion. The two met once in 2012, when Sindhu edged a nail biting thriller 21-17, 22-20 and Sung retired at the Swiss Open last year whilst trailing 2-7. Clearly though, the Korean was a much improved version making steady progress to climb up the rankings ladder.
Aggressive start for Sindhu
Playing with unbridled aggression, Sindhu smashed her way to a 4-2 lead to get the game off to s steady boil.With Sindhu mincing the high bird to shreds, Sung started to drop the bird lower and lower to inch closer at 5-6.
Sindhu has spent many a dawn and dusk this year working on her defensive skills. She brought her work to bear, rallying patiently to stretch the gap to 10-5. The two players changed ends with Sindhu leading 11-6.
An animated Madhumita Bisht underlined the need for Sindhu to control the rally rather than take a reactionary route. But Ji Hyun produced a brilliant smash and a craftily placed winner to reduce the gap to just two at 11-13.
Sung claws back to swing the duel her way
Sindhu dropped a backhand into the net to gift a point, before following it up with another needlessly long backhand to allow her opponent to draw even at 13-13.An increasingly impatient Sindhu was committing far more errors than her due after returning from the break.
Egged on by Bisht from the sidelines, Sindhu resorted to brazen attack once again to keep her nose in front at 16-15. On the next point Sindhu stretched her opponent to the backhand side before nailing a smash winner to the forehand corner as she opened up a three point gap again at 18-15.
Once again, Sung made terrific use of the court space to claw her way back to 18-18. A stinging cross court smash winner earned the Korean an edge at 19-18 and though Sindhu won the next point, it was Sung who earned the first game point with another half smash to Sindhu’s right.
The teenaged girl from Hyderabad made a terrific half smash to save the game point as things started heating up at the Badminton arena in Odense.It was Sindhu’s turn to enjoy game point next, but Sung was upto the task, unleasing yet another smash wide off a sprawling Sindhu to keep it dead even at 21-21.
Another game point was saved, a third, this time for Sung when the Korean dropped the bird into the net at 22-21. A wayward shot from Sindhu gave Sung her third game point, but this time the Korean squandered it with wide shot of her own.
At 23-23, Sindhu floated a feathery backhand agonisingly wide to offer another game point to the Korean. Sung took the game 25-23 when a seemingly tired Sindhu embraced the net with a tamely struck backhand.
Valiant battle but Sindhu falls just short
After an even start to the second game, it was once again Sindhu who drew away first, taking a 7-4 lead. The gap stretched to five with aggression paying Sindhu rich dividends again as she opened up a 10-5 lead.
As in the first game, it was Sindhu again who went into the water break with the lead, this time 11-7. Yet again, Sung roared straight back, taking five of the six points immediately after the break to draw level at 12-12.
A wayward backhand from Sindhu gifted her opponent the lead on the next point. The two players were even at 14-14, but Sung won a couple of edgy rallies to take a 16-14 lead. Time was running out for Sindhu, a move had to be made before long.
Sindhu did just that, running her opponent ragged in an intense rally which ended when a stretched Sung just collapsed to floor after failing to reach the shuttle. At 16-16, a concerned umpire allowed both players off the court for a drink.
When they came back, it was Sindhu who clearly the more energetic of the two girls. The Indian was two points from forcing a third game at 19-17. But Sindhu missed an easy smash to allow her opponent to keep the score dead even at 19-19.
A determined Sindhu won a long rally to gain the second game point of the match. Sindhu collapsed the shuttle into the net off her backhand to squander the opportunity. On the next point, the tenth ranked Indian turned too eager to miss a drop and offer a match point to Sung. The Korean took it immediately, striking straight at Sindhu to cramp her for space and earn a hard fought victory.
