PV Sindhu’s been beating Akane Yamaguchi the last couple of times, but the Asian Games is a different beast. (Source: File Photo) PV Sindhu’s been beating Akane Yamaguchi the last couple of times, but the Asian Games is a different beast. (Source: File Photo) Like every other big badminton tournament in the past, the business end narrows down its focus on India’s two singles stars. The most recognisable faces in Indian badminton, the only ones with bonafide renown. The Asian Games had been a tad different – India had failed to win a medal at all junctures of Saina and Sindhu;s careers; when Saina had started beating the Chinese but imploded in Guangzhou, when Sindhu had finished off the Chinese but crumbled in Incheon. At Jakarta, always a happy hunting ground for Indians, the two turned up again and ensured two medals for the country – a stunning turnaround from the last week when India had pretty much gone down in every category and the team events even before the bugle was blown at the Istora. Nehwal beat Thai stroke-maker Ratchanok Intanon 21-18, 21-16, while Sindhu logged in another self-flagellating and utterly needless second set against another Thai talent – Nitchaon Jindapol, slotting a quarters win at 21-11, 16-21, 21-14. Saina could not check who the last player to win an Asiad medal was – because coach Gopichand had told her that it’s an important event and she could do without distractions. She was so zoned in that she noticed that Ratchanok against whom she has a swell record, could pose a variety of challenges: the Thai was playing well against Sung Ji on Saturday, she was rallying well, she had rhythm. It was more than her opponent that had narrowed Saina’s focus down – India needed a medal at the Asiad. Even the fact that she had a decent record against the Thai, crossed her mind as a pressure wave. Accumulated experience was weighing her down rather than her thriving in the knowledge of that wisdom. She trailed by 10 points in the second, but would decide to fight it out. Saina’s always had Ratchanok’s number, and order was restored when she started believing in it herself, once again. An alert Saina is seriously more dangerous than a scattered, but relaxed Saina. And soon she would be setting herself a Monday date against Tai Tzu Ying who decimated Nozomi Okuhara 21-15, 21-10. “She’s world No 1 player, but let’s see. I gave her good competition in the Asian Badminton Championships,” Saina would say. Sindhu playing later, would make a mess of a nice 11-7 lead in the second. It’d be funny if it wasn’t so frustrating every time Sindhu pooled a bunch of errors around her and then splashed the resultant panic around – to prolong a match that a sharp Sindhu would finish in two-third’s that time. But between feeling she could finish off the match, and the tall champ actually wrapping up a day’s play, there is a yawning gap of impossible errors and for the opponent, a bunch of possibilities. Jindapol was about to find out, how much she can get away with flattering, before Sindhu browbeats her into deceiving. “I got nervous and suddenly started giving points. I should’ve just kept going,” she would say later. Sindhu’s been beating Akane Yamaguchi the last couple of times, but the Asian Games is a different beast – there’s a reason no one since Syed Modi has medalled here. “Rally player who can hit very fast,” Sindhu would appraise her, well aware that the Japanese team would be ready with a fresh strategy while unleashing crazy-ball Yamaguchi on her. But she would utter the magic words : “It will be a proud moment for the country if both of us can be in final. But it’s not enough winning any medal. It should be the best medal, not just a medal…”<doc-sep>What’s the story? Having confirmed a medal from the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday, Indian shuttle queens Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu have now achieved a rare feat. Both of them can now boast of medals from the prestigious quintet of badminton tournaments -- the Olympics, the World Championships, the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Championships and now the Asian Games. In case you didn’t know India hadn’t won a medal in individual events in badminton for 36 years since Syed Modi grabbed the bronze in front of the home crowd at the 1982 Delhi Games. On Sunday, Nehwal ended the drought when she confirmed a medal by beating former world champion Ratchanok Intanon, thereby delivering India’s maiden women’s singles Asiad medal. An hour later, Sindhu joined her when she prevailed over Nitchaon Jindapol to assure India of yet another medal from the women’s singles category. The heart of the matter Nehwal was slow out of the blocks and looked very nervous in the initial stages of her quarter-final match against the World No. 4 Intanon. The Thai looked to be thoroughly in control of the proceedings when she moved ahead to 11-3 at the time of the mid-game interval in the first game. Nehwal then brought forth her trademark fighting spirit to unnerve Intanon. As the Thai kept peppering the court with errors, Nehwal pulled off a 21-18, 21-16 win. Sindhu had a blazing start against World No. 11 Nitchaon Jindapol, who is Thailand’s No. 2 player after Intanon. Having pocketed the opener at 21-11, she looked on course for an effortless win. However, the complexion of the match changed pretty soon as the lanky Indian went off the boil and lost her sharpness. Looking very weary and slow-footed, the World No. 3’s game collapsed into a heap of errors. The decider seemed very tight until the mid-game interval, following which Sindhu looked more at ease and like her usual self. Riding on her attacking game, she finally managed to stave off the Jindapol challenge and make it to the Asian Games semi-finals for the first time with a 21-11, 16-21, 21-14 win. What’s next? While Nehwal goes on to face the World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying for a place in the final, Sindhu will take on the World No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi. Both the semi-finals are scheduled to be held on Monday morning. Do you think Saina and Sindhu can set up the dream all-Indian final that everybody has been waiting for? Do share your thoughts in the comments section below.<doc-sep>PV Sindhu overcame a stern test against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi to enter the women's singles final at the Asian Games 2018. PV Sindhu, seeded third, defeated second seeded Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 15-21, 21-10 in the semi-final which lasted for 66 minutes. Sindhu, thus became the first Indian shuttler to reach the badminton final at the Asian Games. In the first game, Sindhu won a closely-fought contest. However, Yamaguchi came from behind to outplay Sindhu in the second game to level the match. The final game saw Sindhu dominating from the onset to defeat her superior seed. Sindhu has not beaten Tai Tzu in their last five meetings and the Chinese Taipei player enjoys an overall 9-3 dominance over the Indian shuttler. However, silver-medallist Sindhu managed to defeat Tai Tzu at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Sindhu, who will be playing her fifth final this year, will be under pressure to break the jinx and land the closing punch. She is yet to win a singles title this year, although she made it to four finals - India Open, Commonwealth Games, Thailand Open and BWF World Championships. In fact, she lost a close Commonwealth Games final to compatriot Saina Nehwal and brought home a silver medal. When is the Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final match? The Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final match will take place on August 28, 2018. Where is the Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final final match? The Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final will be played at Jakarta, Indonesia. What time does the Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final match begin? The Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final will begin at 11:40 AM (IST). Which TV channels will broadcast the Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final? The Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final will be shown on Sony Network. How do I watch online live streaming of the Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final match? Promoted The Asian Games 2018, PV Sindhu vs Tai Tzu Ying final live streaming will be available on Sony LIV. You can also catch the live updates on sports.ndtv.com. (All broadcast and streaming timings are as per information received from the host broadcasters)<doc-sep>PV Sindhu outclassed second seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-17, 15-21, 21-10 to secure a place in the women's singles badminton final at the Asian Games. In the process, the 23-year-old became the first Indian to reach the final of an Individual event at the Games. Sindhu will take on world no. 1 Tai Tzu Ying in the final tomorrow. Earlier, Saina Nehwal lost 17-21, 14-21 to world number one Tai Tzu Ying and will take home a bronze medal at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. The ace Indian shutter was no comparison to Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying, who was at her best to beat Saina in straight games. Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal headed for a gold medal showdown at the 18th Asian Games after their quarterfinal victories ensured India's first ever women's singles medals at the Continental event. First it was London bronze medallist Saina, who ended a 36-year-old wait for an individual medal after locking at least a bronze following a 21-18 21-16 win over world number five Ratchanok Intanon in a 42-minute quarterfinal. Rio silver medallist Sindhu then fought past world number 12 Nitchaon Jindapol 21-11 16-21 21-14 in the other quarterfinal. This is the first time Indian women singles shuttlers are assured of a medal in Asian Games. And India will have the first singles medals in badminton after the 1982 Asiad when Syed Modi won the bronze. (MEDAL TALLY) Highlights of Asian Games 2018 badminton semi-final of PV Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi, straight from Jakarta, Indonesia 12:38 IST: PV Sindhu seals the match point and claims a 21-17, 15-21, 21-10 win in the semifinal against Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu becomes the first Indian to reach the final of an Individual event at the Asian Games . Sindhu will take on world no. 1 Tai Tzu Ying in the final tomorrow. 12:37 IST: Another unforced error by Akane Yamaguchi. PV Sindhu now just 3 points away from securing her place in the finals 12:36 IST: PV Sindhu looks extremely comfortable now. Maintains a healthy 7-point lead over her opponent 12:35 IST: PV Sindhu opens up a 6-point lead now. Leads 14-8 12:32 IST: Sindhu might be leading but Yamaguchi will not go down without a fight. 12:30 IST: At mid break, Sindhu leads 11-7. 12:28 IST: Yamaguchi takes back to back points and brings down Sindhu's lead to 10-7. 12:26 IST: The rallies are getting longer now. Yamaguchi goes down on her knees after the 41-stroke rally. Sindhu takes a 10-5 lead now 12:23 IST: Both the players are playing aggressive badminton but Sindhu takes a five-point lead in the third game. 12:20 IST: PV Sindhu takes an early lead in the deciding game. 12:18 IST: The decider third game gets underway. 12:17 IST: Akane Yamaguchi wins the second game against PV Sindhu 21-15. 12:16 IST: After a shoddy display in the first game, Yamaguchi is putting her best in the second game. The Japanese leads 19-15 now. 12:14 IST: After taking a four-point lead in the second game, Sindhu now trails by 4 points. 12:13 IST: Excellent fight-back by Yamaguchi. Takes a 3-point lead. 12:10 IST: After the break, Yamaguchi opens up at 2-point lead. 12: 07 IST: Yamaguchi equalises and suddenly takes a one-point lead at the mid-break. It 10-11 for Sindhu now. 12:06 IST: Now Yamaguchi reduces Sindhu's lead to one point. 12:05 IST: Now an unforced error by PV Sindhu. She still leads 10-8 12:04 IST: A three-point lead for Sindhu now 12:02 IST: Akane Yamaguchi is giving away too many easy points to PV Sindhu by committing unforced errors. The Indian now leads 8-6. 12:00 IST: Sindhu has opened up a three-point lead now. It's 7-4 11:58 IST: Finally, a one-point lead for PV Sindhu. It's 5-4 now 11:56 IST: Just like the first game, the second one has begun on an even note. Both the players are trying to put pressure on each other to open up a big lead. 11:55 IST: A couple of unforced errors by Sindhu early in the second game. It's 2-2 as of now. 11:54 IST: The second game gets underway 11:53 IST: PV Sindhu wins the first game 21-17 vs Akane Yamaguchi 11:52 IST: Game point for Sindhu now. 11:50 IST: Aggressive display by Sindhu as she takes a four-point lead. 11:49 IST: Three straight points for Yamaguchi but Sindhu still leads 17-15 11:47 IST: Sindhu's 5-point lead is back as Yamaguchi commits too many errors. Quite a sloppy show by the Japanese player. 11:46 IST: Yamaguchi brings Sindhu's lead down to 3 points. 11:45 IST: A 5-point lead for Sindhu now. 11:43 IST: At mid break, Sindhu leads 11-8. 11:42 IST: Two-point lead for Sindhu now, she leads 10-8. 11:40 IST: A close first game is on right now. Both Sindhu and Yamaguchi are not letting even a point slip by. 11:35 IST: Good start by Sindhu in the first game as she fought back after conceding an early lead. 11:30 IST: PV Sindhu faces Akane Yamaguchi in the semis. 11:10 IST: Saina Nehwal loses 17-21, 14-21 to Tai Tzu Ying and takes home bronze. 11:08 IST: Tai Tzu Ying now gets a 6-point lead. 11:07 IST: At 15-14, Tai Tzu Ying gets into the lead yet again in the second game. 11:04 IST: Saina Nehwal for the first time in the match takes a 13-12 lead against Tai Tzu Ying. Can she turn the match around from here? 11:01 IST: At the mid-break of the second game, Saina Nehwal trails 10-11 against Tai Tzu Ying in women's singles final. Saina showed great determination to make a comeback in the second game but Tai Tzu Ying is proving to be too good for her. 10:57 IST: Saina Nehwal draws level at 6-6 in the second game with a powerful smash down the line. Saina is trying to make a comeback in the game but Tai Tzu Ying is not giving any such opportunities. 10:54 IST: Saina Nehwal trails Tai Tzu Ying 5-1 in the second game. The Chinese Taipei shuttler is running away with the game, she looks confident.<doc-sep>
Olympic medallists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal are headed for a gold medal showdown at Asian Games 2018 after their quarterfinal victories ensured India’s first ever women’s singles medals at the continental event. First it was London bronze medallist Saina, who ended a 36-year-old wait for an individual medal after locking at least a bronze following a 21-18 21-16 win over world number five Ratchanok Intanon in a 42-minute quarterfinal. Rio silver medallist Sindhu then fought past world number 12 Nitchaon Jindapol 21-11, 16-21, 21-14 in the other quarterfinal. The last Indian to win an individual medal at the Asian Games was legendary Syed Modi, who won a men’s singles bronze, way back in 1982 at New Delhi. India has won eight badminton medals at the Asian Games and six of them are in team events and one in men’s doubles. In the semifinals, Saina faces world no 1 and top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, while Sindhu will take on either China’s Chen Yufei or world no 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. Commenting on the historic medals assured, Sindhu said she is hungry for more. “It’s great (that medals are assured) moment but it’s not over yet. It should be the best and not just a medal. May be a gold that’s how I feel,” said world no 3 Sindhu. On an all-Indian final looming, Sindhu said, “It will be very good for Indian badminton, two players in the final, hopefully, it will happen.” Interestingly, Saina and Sindhu had clashed at the finals of the Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast in April with the former emerging victories. Talking about the second-game lapse, Sindhu said she was nervous and made easy errors. READ: Asian Games 2018: India reach compound women’s team archery semifinal “I felt I could have finished it in two sets but I made easy errors and then I got nervous, my stroke were not coming in the second game. Due to my mistakes, I gave her the second set. I should not think that if first game is easy, second will also be easy,” she said. While Sindhu ran away with the first game, Jindapol made it little tough for the Indian in the second game and thrice held the lead. Trailing 13-16, Sindhu found winners on either side of the court to make it even but Jindapol again created a four-point lead with very calculated smash shots and won the game easily to roar back into the contest. In the decider, Sindhu trailed 4-7 with Jindapol spraying winners but the Indian won seven points in a row to give herself a four-point cushion. There was no change in script after that as Sindhu ran away with the match. Earlier, Saina fell behind 3-8 at the beginning but found a way to beat the Thai player, whom she had beaten at the recent World Championship in Nanjing and also at the Indonesian Master at the same venue. Saina said she was not aware who won the last individual medal. “We were actually discussing that. We did not know. Gopi sir said keep the phone away,” said the world no 10 Indian. She came into this match with a superior record with four wins in the last five meetings against the Thai. “She was playing strong and I knew she will challenge me today. I was taking her seriously, she had beaten Sung Ji Hyun in the previous match and first time I saw her playing well against a rally player,” Saina said. Talking about her tactics after falling behind in the opening game, Saina said, “I was not moving that well initially but after 12-3, I opened up and I started picking up those tough shots. “Then one-two rallies happened and there I saw her getting tired but she was very tough. She was playing attacking.” Saina said the deafening cheers of the crowd also made it challenging for her. “She had the lead, I had the good record against her, crowd was shouting (for Indonesian player on adjacent court), so many things were playing in my mind. You could not hear the shuttle (due to noise), you have to be alert.” The London Olympics bronze medallist Indian will next take on Tai Tzu Ying, who knocked out 2017 World Champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-15 21-10 in another quarterfinal. World number three PV Sindhu will also take on a Thai player in the last-eight as she is up against world number 12 Jindapol Nitchaon.