Japan Open Super Series: Nozomi Okhura stuns P.V. Sindhu in the second round

Tokyo: Nozomi Okuhara produced a stunning display of badminton to knock out India's PV Sindhu 21-18, 21-8 in the second round of the Japan Open Super Series. Okuhara avenged her defeat to Sindhu in last week's Korean Open Super Series final.

World no. 2 Sindhu had come into the tournament after winning the Korean Open Super Series last week.

In the first round of the Japan Open, Sindhu defeated Minatsu Mitani 12-21 21-15 21-17. Sindhu started the game on attacking note racing to 7-4 lead in the opening game. At the end of the break, the Indian shuttler was leading the game 11-9.

However, after the interval, the momentum changed quickly in Okuhara's favour as she raced to a 15-11 lead, but Sindhu fought back to level the score at 16-16. Okuhara though avoided further mistakes as she bagged the first game 21-18.

It was a one-way traffic in the second game as the Japanese kept up the momentum from the first game, Okuhara raced to 5-2 lead. The lead kept on increasing as she never allowed Sindhu to control the game leading the match 11-4 at the break.

Sindhu continue to make errors due to which she found it difficult to get going continued to going. Sindhu continued to falter with her strokes and the result was Okuhara led 19-7. There was no way back for Sindhu as she lost the second game and the match 21-8.