Japan Open 2018: PV Sindhu vs Sayaka Takahashi first round, Live Score and Match Updates

AND SINDHU GETS THE JOB DONE!!!!!

SINDHU STAVES OFF A HUGE CHALLENGE FROM TAKAHASHI TO WIN 21-17, 7-21, 21-13

SHE IS THROUGH TO THE SECOND ROUND!!!!

SEVEN MATCH POINTS FOR SINDHU!

19-13 for Sindhu now

Takahashi is trying her best to give Sindhu a last-minute fight!

Trails 13-18

It's 18-12 to the Indian

The pace of the match has slowed down a bit here, but that hasn't troubled Sindhu much.

She is still ahead by a healthy margin.

17-11

It's 17-10 now as Sindhu inches closer to victory!

It's 14-9 for the Indian now!

Still in control of the proceedings!

Sindhu cannot afford to relax as Takahashi gets a couple of points here.

Sindhu up 13-7

Sindhu is now showing her defensive skills as well, as she grabs a long rally.

12-4

An aggressive Sindhu makes it 11-4 at the mid-game interval.

Sindhu is steadily increasing the gap between her and Takahashi

9-4

It's 8-3 to Sindhu now

Looking more patient and calm

It's 7-2 to the India No. 1

Looking more like her usual self now!

It's 5-2 to the Indian!

It's 4-1 to the Indian

Sindhu makes a much better start to the decider and leads 3-1

And she does!

Takahashi gets the second game 21-7 and levels this match!

It's 19-7 to the home hope now!

She looks all set to take this to the decider!

It still continues to be a ten-point difference between the two!

17-7

It's a ten-point gap between the two now!

Takahashi up 16-6

Sindhu does manage to take three points after the break.

Can she keep this going?

Trails 6-13

And Takahashi grabs the mid-game advantage, just like she did in Game 1

It's 11-3 to the Japanese

It's 10-3 for the Japanese now!

Is Sindhu feeling the effects of a super hectic schedule, where she had to play the World Championships and the Asian Games back-to-back?

Takahashi has raced ahead to 9-1 now.

Can Sindhu make a comeback again?

And once again, Sindhu is struggling to find her rhythm again

She has gone down 1-7 now

It's 4-1 to the Japanese now!

Sindhu trails 1-3 now

Once more Sindhu makes a slow start to a game and immediately goes down 0-2 in the second game.

Sindhu clinches the first game 21-17

But, by then, the damage has already been done!

Sindhu has game points, and a whole host of them!

20-17

After losing 11 points in a row, Takahashi finally gets one point.

17-19

It's all Sindhu now!

19-16

She is two points away from taking this game!

10 CONSECUTIVE POINTS FOR SINDHU!

SHE IS UP 18-16

WHAT A TURNAROUND!

IT'S 16-16

WHAT A COMEBACK!!!!

Sindhu is now trailing by only ONE POINT!

15-16

And Sindhu has closed the gap to JUST TWO POINTS!

14-16

Sindhu gets her fifth point in a row.

Trails 13-16

FOUR CONSECUTIVE POINTS FOR SINDHU NOW!

12-16

Another point for Sindhu!

Is the comeback on?

She is still down 11-16

Sindhu finally finds her touch and gets a couple of points here.

She trails 10-16

It's 16-8 to the Japanese!

Time is running out for Sindhu to make a comeback in Game 1

It's 14-8 to Takahashi now.

The slow start from Sindhu continues!

It's 12-7 to Takahashi after the break.

A lot of work ahead for Sindhu!!!!

And Takahashi does indeed manage to keep her lead to go up to 11-6 at the mid-game interval.

It's 10-6 to the Japanese now!!!!

It's 9-4 to the Japanese!

It's a five-point difference between the two now!!!!

And the Japanese adds another couple of quick points to extend her lead to 8-4

It's 6-4 to the Japanese

Sindhu will need to find her feet real quick