PV Sindhu recovers to take opening game at Dubai World Superseries Finals 14.12.2016: India’s Pusarla V Sindhu did not disappoint the partisan crowd in her come-from-behind victory over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in Women’s

India’s Pusarla V Sindhu did not disappoint the partisan crowd in her come-from-behind victory over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in Women’s Singles Group B in the first day of play at the Dubai World Superseries Finals at the Hamdan Sports Complex today.





The pint-sized Japanese dynamo stonewalled Pusarla and ran off to a quick first game win. Yamaguchi started the second strongly but gradually the Olympic silver medallist started to catch her with sliced drop shots and attacking clears that pinned her to the baseline.



“She got a big lead early on; she wasn’t letting any shuttle past her,” said Pusarla. “I tried to keep the shuttle deep in the second game and was able to cut down on my errors. I’m very happy to get a good start to my campaign here.”



Lee Chong Wei’s Dubai dream meanwhile did not get off to the best possible start as he capitulated to Korea’s Son Wan Ho for the first time in over four years.



The Malaysian, winner of three World Superseries titles this season and the Olympic silver, could not quite find his range in their Men’s Singles Group B match.



Lee appeared tentative and leaden-footed in his first competitive match since October’s Yonex Denmark Open, where he suffered a hamstring injury. However, the Male Player of the Year did not offer any excuses following his 21-10 21-16 defeat.



“Winning and losing is part of the game,” said Lee. “I will try to recover and try my best for the next match.”



Son’s only previous victory over Lee in 11 matches was in the final of the Yonex Sunrise India Open in 2012. Since then, he has lost six matches, five of them in straight games.



“I have lost many times to him,” said Son. “I tried to learn from my past losses. I tried to relax and get into my rhythm. My confidence grew once I got a lead early in the match. Maybe he wasn’t in his best condition, but this win will help my confidence for the rest of the tournament.”



In Women’s Doubles Group B, last year’s runners-up Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Denmark) powered past Malaysia’s Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei 21-7 21-17, while Women’s Doubles defending champions Luo Ying/Luo Yu had an inauspicious start to their campaign, falling 21-19 21-15 to Korea’s Chang Ye Na/Lee So Hee in Group A.



“Our first Superseries victory (Thaihot China Open) in November has given us a lot of confidence, and we’re hopeful of doing well here,” said Chang Ye Na. “It has always been our aim to qualify for Dubai. The conditions are very nice and we’re keen to continue our winning performance.”


The teenage Chinese pairing of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan continued their great form of late, accounting for Olympic bronze medallists Korea’s Jung Kyung Eun and Shin Seung Chan, 21-18, 21-13. In the final game of day one Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, runner-up in Dubai in 2015, overcame Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long, 21-13,21-17.




Action in the BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals continues with the finals being played on Sunday 18 December. The order of play, results and all the details can be found at http://www.dubaisuperseriesfinals.ae



Tickets for the BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae, Prices start from AED 25, with those under 18 years entering for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

 


About the Dubai World Superseries Finals:


The Dubai World Superseries Finals will see the eight top players in the Destination Dubai Rankings in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories compete at the Hamdan Sports Complex from December 14-18 2016, for a share of a million dollar prize pool. To qualify for Dubai the players have to amass points from twelve MetLife BWF World Superseries Tournaments held around the world throughout the year.



In November 2016 the Dubai World Superseries Finals was awarded the maximum five stars in the prestigious Dubai Sports Council Sports Events Ranking System.



Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, the World Superseries Finals are to be staged in Dubai each December until 2017 as part of a four-year partnership, facilitated by Falcon and Associates, in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).





About BWF


BWF is the international governing body of the sport of badminton, recognised by the International Olympic Committee. It is the successor organisation to the International Badminton Federation (IBF) which was founded on 5 July, 1934. The IBF was rechristened the Badminton World Federation in 2006.



The purpose and objectives of BWF include regulating, promoting, developing and popularising the sport of badminton throughout the world and organising, conducting and presenting international events at the highest level.



The BWF’s vision is to make badminton a leading global sport accessible to all – giving every child a chance to play for life. Its mission is to lead and inspire all stakeholders; to deliver entertainment through exciting events to drive fan experience, and to create innovative, impactful and sustainable development initiatives.



The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 185 member associations worldwide.



About Dubai Sports Council:


Dubai Sports Council was founded on November 30, 2005 with the aim of developing and improving sport in Dubai. It aims to create a comprehensive sports environment that meets the requirements of society and paves the way for the youth to cultivate their sporting and cultural talents and aptitudes in a way that leads them to achieve tangible results, so that Dubai can become a leading name in the world of sports.



Sarah Marks, - photos Francois Nel  Getty Images