Thailand Open | PV Sindhu loses to Nozomi Okuhara in final

Sindhu was hardly the favourite going to the final given the brilliant form Okuhara was in. She, however, had a positive start to the game before slumping fast as the Japanese shuttler took an early lead at 6-2. Though Sindhu closed her down to reduce the margin to just one in 6-5, Okuhara raced to the break with a lead of 11-2. That was pretty much it as the closest that Sindhu was at 12-10 and 13-11, barring which the Japanese ace kept the lead intact and eventually went on to win five consecutive points from 17-15 to win the game 21-15.

Sindhu started the second game on a stronger note racing to a 5-1 lead early on before Okuhara won four consecutive points from 6-2 to make it 6-6. It was Japanese’s time to lead now and she looked brimming with confidence as she led 11-9 at the break despite Sindhu’s late effort to draw level at 9-9. It was Sindhu’s last chance to get back in the match and she showed resilience by winning three consecutive points to lead at 12-11. However, Okuhara leveled points at 12-12 and 14-14 before leading by a point. 

Sindhu’s rhythm was already disrupted with Okuhara racing away with the win but a win at the end of a mind-blowing rally meant Sindhu was in it at 18-18. But, temperament was never Sindhu’s forte and the Indian was seen giving away the last three points cheaply. The head to head between the two starts at 6-5 with the Japanese taking revenge for her All England Open loss.