New Delhi: P.V. Sindhu suffered her second successive loss to world no. 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the final of the $400,000 Hong Kong Super Series in Kowloon on Sunday.
Sindhu, who had a 3-7 head-to-head record against Tai before the match, fought valiantly but went down 18-21, 18-21 to the defending champion in a 44-minute contest.
It was Sindhu’s second loss in four finals she has reached this season. She also lost out to the 23-year-old Taiwanese star in last year’s Hong Kong Open.
In the opening game Tai unleashed her wide range of strokes to lead 3-0 and then 7-2. Sindhu narrowed the deficit to 6-7. But Tai’s clever returns gave her a three-point advantage at the break.
After the breather, Sindhu made it 10-13 but Tai quickly extended her advantage to 16-13. Sindhu clawed back at 18-18. But Tai’s powerful smashes helped her win the first game.
In the second game, Sindhu fell behind early but fought back to 4-4 and 7-7. Sindhu upped the ante to grab a 11-9 lead at the break.
However, Tai dominated the proceedings after the interval, racing to 17-12.
Tai maintained her composure, despite Sindhu saving two match points, to win the match with a drop shot.
Lee Chong Wei victorious
Former world number one Lee Chong Wei defeated Olympic champion Chen Long 21-14, 21-19 to win the men’s singles final, defying expectations that the all-time great may be reaching his end.
China’s Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong took 35 minutes to win the mixed doubles final 21-15, 21-13 over Danish shuttlers Mathias Christiansen and Christinna Pedersen.
Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia beat Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding of Denmark 21-12, 21-18 in the men’s doubles final.
Top seeded China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan defeated Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu 14-21, 21-16, 21-15 in the women’s doubles final.
