Guangzhou: India’s P.V. Sindhu who pulled off a shock at the BWF World Tour Finals on Thursday as she fought back to defeat World No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying for the first time in over two years, also outlasted Zhang Beiwen of USA on Friday. Zhang had defeated Sindhu three consecutive time prior to Friday’s meeting.
Sindhu demonstrated her dominance to wrap up the match against Zhang with a 21-9, 21-15 victory. The Indian will face Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Ratchanok on the other hand became the runner-up in women’s singles Group B (after Nozomi Okuhara) as she overcame Michelle Li of Canada 21-13, 21-12 on Friday.
Meanwhile, there was heartbreak in women’s singles Group A match when World No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying was forced to retire with a right hamstring injury when playing against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi.
“I’ve never had this injury before. I felt it during today’s match. I feel bad that the tournament ended like this for me, but there was nothing I could do.”
Yamaguchi will face Nozomi Okuhara on Saturday in an all-Japanese showdown.
In men’s singles, World No. 1 Kento Momota continued to show he was the man to beat as the had won all three of his matches this week without dropping a set.
Momota will be facing Korea’s Son Wan-Ho in the semi-finals, while China’s Shi Yuqi will meet Indian qualifier Sameer Verma in another men’s semi.
