Vantaa: Indian badminton sensation PV Sindhu has advanced to the semi-finals of the 2023 Arctic Open women's singles event after a hard-fought victory over Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen at the Vantaa Energia Areena in Finland.
Sindhu, who is the sole remaining Indian contender in the tournament, displayed her resilience in a three-set battle, triumphing with scores of 20-22, 22-20, and 21-18.
This win was reminiscent of her closely contested victory over Thuy Linh Nguyen on her path to claiming the Singapore Open championship the previous year.
The Arctic Open 2023, categorised as a BWF Super 500 event, holds significant importance as the results will contribute to the qualifying rankings for the Paris 2024 Olympics, as reported by Olympics.com.
In a departure from their previous encounters, PV Sindhu took an assertive stance right from the start, putting Thuy Linh Nguyen on the defensive. Although the Vietnamese badminton player managed to narrow the lead to 5-4, Sindhu swiftly regained control, leading 11-4 at the first break, reported ANI.
Sindhu appeared to be on course to secure the first game after the interval. However, Thuy Linh Nguyen relentlessly accumulated points, ultimately levelling the scores at 17-all and claiming the game from that juncture.
The second game saw Thuy Linh Nguyen swiftly amass a 9-5 lead, maintaining a four-point advantage to stay in control. PV Sindhu fought back, drawing level at 18-all. In the face of lengthy rallies from Thuy Linh Nguyen, Sindhu extended the match into a decider.
PV Sindhu commenced the third game with a resolute attacking approach, securing an 11-8 lead at the break. As the game progressed, she extended her lead to five points. Thuy Linh Nguyen saved three match points, but ultimately, PV Sindhu secured the match after an intense 91-minute battle.
In the current year, Sindhu has participated in 14 BWF World Tour tournaments, reaching the finals once, the semifinals and quarterfinals twice each, with the remainder of her performances resulting in early exits in the first or second rounds. Her most recent title victory was at the Singapore Open last year, and she missed out on a medal at the recently concluded Asian Games in Hangzhou.