GLASGOW: Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara edged out India’s Pusarla V Sindhu 21-19, 20-22, 22-20 in a keenly fought final of the women’s singles at the World Badminton Championships in Glasgow on Sunday.
Earlier, Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan became the first gold medal winners.In the women’s doubles final, the Chinese number four seeds beat Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota 21-18, 17-21, 21-15.
On Saturday, Sindhu knocked out China’s Chen Yufei.
In the last of the semifinals, the Olympic silver medallist beat the week’s giant killer 21-13, 21-10.
Chen, the world junior champion, had ousted the top seed, Akane Yumaguchi, and the 2013 champion, Ratchanok Intanon, on her way to the last four. But now she will have to settle for the bronze medal.
Sindhu will be hoping to one better than her compatriot, Saina Nehwal, who won the silver medal in 2015.
“I am very proud to make the final,” said a delighted Sindhu after the unexpectedly one-sided semifinal.
“I played very well today and now look forward to trying to win gold tomorrow.”
Okuhara staged a great fightback from one game down to make it to the final day. She defeated Nehwal, 12-21, 21-17, 21-10, getting stronger as the match went on.
On Friday, the seventh seed had knocked out the reigning world and Olympic champion, Carolina Marin.
“I am so proud to have made it to the final, but now I want gold,” she said.
It is the first time a Japanese player has made it to the final of a world singles event.
Earlier, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen became the first male player from Europe since Peter Rasmussen in 1997 to enter the final of the BWF World Championships.
Axelsen, a bronze medallist in the 2014 edition of the showpiece event in Copenhagen, knocked out China’s Chen Long 21-9, 21-10 in 39 minutes for his second career victory over the defending champion.
Axelsen was surprised by the ease of his progress and the towering 23-year-old said his focus was sharp as he bids to emulate compatriot Rasmussen who won the title 20 years ago. “I can’t believe I just beat Chen Long in straight games,” a bemused Axelsen said after the 39-minute match.
Standing in Axelsen’s way is China’s Lin Dan, who has uncharacteristically struggled in the initial rounds. He showed no mercy to top seed Son Wan-ho in their 58-minute semifinal though, with a trademark jump smash sealing the 21-17 21-14 win. — Agencies
World Championships results
Semifinals on Saturday
Men’s singles
Viktor Axelsen (DEN x3) bt Chen Long (CHN x5) 21-9, 21-10; Lin Dan (CHN x7) bt Son Wan-Ho (KOR x1) 21-17 21-14
Women’s singles
Nozomi Okuhara (JPN x7) bt Saina Nehwal (IND x12) 12-21, 21-17, 21-10; Pusarla V Sindhu (IND x4) bt Chen Yufei (CHN x9) 21-13 21-10
Men’s doubles
Mohammad Ahsan/Rian Agung Saputro (INA) bt Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda (JPN x4) 21-12, 21-15; Liu Cheng/Zhang Nan (CHN x8) bt Chai Biao/Hong Wei (CHN x6) 21-17 21-19
Women’s doubles
Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan (CHN x4) bt Masaki Matsumoto/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN x1) 21-17, 21-15; Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota (JPN x9) bt Kamilla Ryder Juhl/Christinna Pedersen (DEN x2) 21-17 19-21 21-14
Mixed doubles
Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir (INA x3) bt Lee Chun Hei Reginald/Chau Hoi Wah (HKG x10) 21-16, 21-13; Zheng Siwei/Chen Qingchen (CHN x1) bt Chris Adcock/Gabby Adcock (ENG x5) 21-15 23-21
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