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PV Sindhu defeats Li Xue Rui to reach pre-quarterfinals

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 9/18/2019 4:03:00 PM

Newly crowned World Champion PV Sindhu continued her winning run at China Open as she defeated the former world No.1 China's Li Xue Rui in straight games (21-18, 21-12) to qualify for the round of 16.
Replicating her world championship form, the Olympic silver-medallist produced another strong performance to get the better of the currently 20th-ranked Chinese, who entered the match with a 3-3 record against the Indian.
LI saved four-game points but finally crumbled in front of Sindhu's powerful cross-court smash. It was a brilliant contest between both the players and Sindhu finally managed to win the first game 21-18.
Sindhu combined her game with cross-court returns and drops right at the net. The Chinese, on the other hand, looked exhausted, especially while changing direction in the second round.
At one point, Li Xuerui made a great comeback as Sindhu dropped a point after 22 shot rally and the lead was cut down by just 1 point. But World Champion PV Sindhu bounced back to take a dominating 5-point lead in the first round.
In the men's singles, Sai Praneeth defeated Thailand's Suppanyu Avihingsanon 2-1 in a first-round match. In the tough encounter that lasted 72-minutes, Praneeth claimed the first game 21-19 in a neck-and-neck fight. Suppanyu made a comeback in the second game and secured it 23-21.
In the decider, Praneeth won the match 21-14. With this win, he proceeded to the second round of the tournament.
Earlier in the day, Saina Nehwal suffered a first-round defeat against Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan. The Indian shuttler lost 10-21, 17-21 to World No. 19, in just 44 minutes at the Olympic Sports Center Xincheng Gymnasium.