PV Sindhu goes down fighting against Akane Yamaguchi in Dubai Super Series Final
PV Sindhu’s winning run at the Dubai Super Series Final came to an end as she went down to Akane Yamaguchi in the summit clash on Sunday.
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu went down 21-15, 12-21, 19-21 to Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final of the Dubai World Superseries Finals in Dubai on Sunday. (HIGHLIGHTS)
Having defeated the world no. 2 in straight games in the group phase, Sindhu looked on course to extend her 5-2 head-to-head record against Yamaguchi.
The Indian raced to an early lead before winning the first game 21-15. In the second game, she looked comfortable against her Japanese rival and had a 5-0 lead at one point.
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However, Yamaguchi fought back and surged past Sindhu in the second game before closing it out at 21-12.
The deciding game went the distance as both players fought a valiant battle. Tied 13-13, Sindhu won the next point after a marathon rally to take a crucial 14-13 lead.
However, Yamaguchi forced Sindhu into a couple of errors before earning a match point with a 20-19 lead.
The Japanese shuttler then won the next point to win the game 21-19 and clinch the title in the process.
Sindhu thus ended her year with two Super Series titles, in India and Korea. She had earlier lost in the final of the Hong Kong Super Series, as well as in the title clash of the BWF World Championships in Glasgow.
There is no remaining Indian in the fray at the season-ending Dubai Finals.