All England Open 2018, Quarter-finals: PV Sindhu vs Nozomi Okuhara, Live Match Updates

Sindhu def Okuhara 20-22, 21-18, 21-18 in 1 hour 24 minutes to enter the SF

Updated: 16 March 2018 20:47 IST - Published: 16 March 2018 15:35 IST

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Final score: Sindhu def Okuhara 20-22, 21-18, 21-18 in 1 hour 24 minutes to enter the SF

If this is how the first Sindhu vs Okuhara match of 2018 was, we can't wait to see how their next matches will pan out, if they meet again!

The two always deliver an absolute classic every time they meet!

We, badminton fans, are simply blessed to have this rivalry!

"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!"

Sindhu spent more than 2 hours on court before this match, but she played for another 1 hour 24 minutes to beat the world champion and enter the semi-finals of the All England Open for the first time in her career!

She is indeed a tough nut to crack!

What a match! What tenacity from both ladies! Absolute epic!!!!!!

Sindhu WINS!!!!!!

Sindhu finds the line! Okuhara challenges

It's in from Sindhu!!

Finds the corner!

Match points!

Sindhu wins the net battle!

19-18

But Okuhara comes back to 18-18

Reverse slice from Sindhu makes it 18-17

Yellow card shown to SIndhu!

Powerful smash down the line from Sindhu!

17-17

Okuhara breaks the Sindhu streak to go up to 17-16

And Okuhara makes an error at the net

16-16

Outstanding from Sindhu!

Just making Okuhara run from corner to corner!

15-16

Sindhu is now attacking the net and pushing the shuttle to the backcourt.

14-16

Running out of options as well as time is running out for Sindhu.

Can she make a comeback?

And Sindhu is panting, showing signs of tiredness. The long rallies are wearing her out.

It's 16-12 to Okuhara

Reverse slice from Sindhu forces Okuhara into error.

Sindhu 12-14

Sindhu fails to return at the net.

Okuhara 14-11

But Sindhu undoes the good work with errors.

It's 13-11 to Okuhara

With a backhand drop, Sindhu makes it 11-11

And she makes the same mistake again!

Okuhara 11-10 going into the interval

Trying to find a way through the high tosses, Sindhu pushes the shuttle wide!

10-10

Lots of chants for Sindhu in the stadium!

And Sindhu builds on it further!

10-8

And it is 9-8 to SIndhu after the shuttle brushes off the top of the tape and lands in Okuhara's part of the court.

Wonderful drop from the Indian!

She builds a two-point lead.

8-6

And Okuhara smashes into the net!

Deadlocked at 6-6

This time Sindhu misses the smash in a rush!

4-6

Caught in no man's land, Okuhara allows Sindhu to smash!

Okuhara 5-4

Okuhara challenges a Sindhu shot that landed wide.

Great pair of eyes!

Okuhara races ahead to 5-2

With a reverse slice, she widens the gap further!

Okuhara 4-1

Okuhara sets the early tempo...task cut out for Sindhu!

The Japanese is up 3-1

And she stretches it to 2-0

Okuhara opens up a 1-0 lead in the decider!

We are going to a decider!!!!

It was always written in the stars, wasn't it?

Okuhara tried a drop but it trickles to her part of the court!!!!

Sindhu gets the second game 21-18

Two game points for Sindhu!

Okuhara has lost her sharpness!

Third point in a row for Sindhu!

19-18

Now Sindhu comes up with a crosscourt half smash which Okuhara can't return!

It's 18-18

Sindhu is clearly feeling the pressure now. Her face shows it!

16-18

And she gets yet another!

17-16

Okuhara just keeps surprising Sindhu by changing the direction of her shuttle.

16-16

And Okuhara is adamant to come back into this!

She now trails 14-16

Sindhu manages to keep the three-point advantage.

15-12

All of a sudden the tide has turned Sindhu's way as Okuhara makes a few unforced errors.

It's 14-11 to Sindhu

U never expect Okuhara to take the beating lying down!

She makes it 11-11

And suddenly an injection of pace from Sindhu!

She finishes by pushing the shuttle to the backline!

Sindhu up 11-9 at the interval.