PV Sindhu advances to Malaysia Masters final; beats Busanan Ongbamrungphan in thrilling semifinal clash

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu pipped Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the semifinal of the Malaysia Masters on Saturday (May 25) 13-21, 21-16, 21-12  to cement a place in the summit clash. Notably, this is Sindhu’s 18th win over Busanan in 19 matches.

Sindhu misjudged a few backcourt floaters early in the first game and that kept her Thai opponent ahead with a marginal lead. A flat diagonal return from PV Sindhu helped her make it 4-4 before Busanan clawed her way back into the game to gain a two-point lead.

The Thai shuttler maintained her two-point lead 11-9 till the mid-game interval as she kept Sindhu’s attack at bay.

Busanan returned to the court with an unmatched energy after the mid-game interval and stunned Sindhu. The 28-year-old raced to a seven-point lead combined with deft touch and aggression. Busanan outfoxed Sindhu during the long rallies and thwarted her quick diagonals and smashes.

The highest-ranked Indian female shuttler could only manage four more points in the first game before the world-ranked 10 flew away with the first game 21-13.

Sindhu began the second game with a 1-0 lead after Busanan went wide while attempting a cross-court lift. The Indian fell prey to some poor umpiring early in the second game after a cross-court smash was called out despite landing within the lines.

It gave Busanan an opening and she capitalised by taking a 4-2 lead. However, a much more alert Sindhu didn’t let her opponent run away with the lead and scripted a fightback to make it 11-9 at the mid-interval.

The Rio Olympics silver medallist maintained her composure to take the second game 21-16 and pushed the contest into the decider. The decider witnessed a dominant run by Sindhu as she ran away with the game and convincingly defeated her opponent 21-12.