Match: PV Sindhu v Sun Yu
Date: 15 December, Thursday
Time: 7:30pm SGT/5pm IST/11:30am GMT
Competition: BWF Dubai World Superseries Finals 2016
Venue: Hamdan Sports Complex, Dubai
TV Channel: In Singapore, there is no live TV coverage of the match.
Live Streaming: Hotstar, BWF's official YouTube channel.
Overview
PV Sindhu entered the 2016 Superseries Finals in Dubai on the back of winning her maiden Superseries title in China and reaching the finals of Hong Kong Open. However, she looked unsettled against Japanese teenager Akane Yamaguchi in the first game of her opening match on Wednesday.
After conceding the first game 21-12, Sindhu was back at her best, testing Yamaguchi with well-placed drop shots and smashes. The result was there to be seen as the Japanese shuttler lost the second game 21-8 and once again had no answers to the Rio Olympic silver medallist's aggression in the third and conceded it 21-15.
Sindhu, who is geared up after having a dream year in 2016, should have gained confidence and a tough test as early as in the first match will only help her going forward in the ongoing tournament. The 22-year-old has also proved she is fit enough to engage in draining battles.
"She got a big lead early on; she wasn't letting any shuttle past her. I tried to keep the shuttle deep in the second game and was able to cut down on my errors. I'm very happy to get a good start to my campaign here," Sindhu spoke of her win on Wednesday, as quoted by the tournament's official website.
Sun, on the other hand, stunned reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin in straight games in her first Group B match on Wednesday. After clinching the first game 21-18, the 22-year-old Chinese shuttler was tested in the second by the Spaniard, who eventually conceded the game 22-24.
The third seed has been among the most consistent shuttlers in the ongoing season but has been without a title despite reaching the finals of four Superseries tournaments - Singapore, Australia, Japan and China. Notably, she lost the final of the tournament at home against Sindhu. Both the shuttlers have won against each other three times so far and the winner on Thursday will have one leg on the semi-final spot.
TV Schedule
India: Star Sports HD 2
