It was a thrilling match between these two top players who fought for each point right from word go. Okuhara won the first set in a closely fought game 22-20. Rio Olympic silver medallist came back strongly to win 2nd one 21-18.
In the third set, both players fought for each point but Sindhu reversed the game holding her nerves and progressed into the semi-finals.
In the first game, Sindhu started well taking a 4-3 lead. Both players fought for alternate point and Okuhara equaled the scores at 9-9.
At the interval, the World Champion Okuhara had a slender 11-10 lead. After the interval, the intense battle between two players continued till the score reached 20-20. Okuhara took two points in succession to win the first set 22-20.
The second game was also an exciting battle with Sindhu leading at 3-1 in the early stages. Both players continued to fight for each point and never allowed the opponent to take more than two points lead at any time.
Sindhu had a 9-7 lead before Okuhara took two successive points to level the scores at 9-9, but Sindhu came back at the interval, to lead 11-9.
After the break, she continued aggression taking a 14-11 lead. Okuhara then showed a great fighting spirit and leveled the score at 16-16, continued to take a slender lead of 18-16. At this moment, Sindhu was looking out of the tournament.
However, she fought back to level the score at 18-18 and continued to take another three points in succession winning the second game 21-18.
The third game saw Okuhara begin on aggressive note taking a 4-1 lead. Sindhu played down 2-5 played an intelligent game to equal the score at 6-6.
The game progressed as a neck to neck battle getting Sindhu a slender lead of 10-8. Okuhara then fought back and took 3 points in succession to take an 11-10 lead at the interval.
After the interval, the Japanese continued to build her lead to reach 16-12. Sindhu again showed great fighting spirit and leveled the score at 16-16. The match was heading for an exciting finish with scores reading 18-18. Then came the best show of Sindhu in which she took three points in succession to win an epic battle and progress into the semi-finals.
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