Sindhu thrashes Intanon to enter India Open final
New Delhi, India: Defending champion Pusarla Venkata Sindhu of India stormed into the final of the India Open badminton tournament Saturday to set up a title clash with American Beiwen Zhang in New Delhi.
Top-seeded Sindhu, 22, eased past third-seeded Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 21-13, 21-15 in the semi-final that lasted 48 minutes.
The lanky Sindhu displayed admirable maturity against former world No.1 Intanon in the last-four encounter, as she dominated proceedings in front of a raucous home crowd.
Earlier, fifth-seed Zhang had a tough outing against Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong but prevailed 14-21, 21-12, 21-19.
In men's action, China's Shi Yuqi staved off stiff competition from Iskandar Zulkarnain to enter the finals of the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament.
The fourth-seeded Yuqi set up an exciting title clash with Taiwan's Chou Tien Chen, who beat Qiao Bin of China 23-21, 21-16.
But Yuqi was pushed to the limit in the semi-final that lasted one hour and nine minutes before getting past Zulkarnain of Malaysia 18-21, 21-10, 21-19.
Zulkarnain, who came in as a qualifier, got past some top names in the league stage including home favourite and second-seed Kidambi Srikanth in the last-16 clash.
The tournament saw top women shuttlers falter with India's Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin of Spain losing out in the quarter-finals.
World number one Viktor Axelsen also pulled out on the eve of the $350,000 tournament, taking some sheen out of the men's field.
The finals will played on Sunday.
Semifinal results (x denotes seeding):
Men's Singles
Chou Tien Chen (TWN x3) bt Qiao Bin (CHN) 23-21, 21-16
Shi Yuqi (CHN) bt Iskandar Zulkarnain (MAS) 18-21, 21-10, 21-19
Women's Singles
Beiwen Zhang (USA x5) bt Cheung Ngan Yi (HKG x6) 14-21, 21-12, 21-19
PV Sindhu (IND x1) bt Ratchanok Intanon (THA x3) 21-13, 21-15
