(S.Ravi Seshu)
An aggressive PV Sindhu and gritty Sameer Verma stormed into the finals of women and men categories of the Hong Kong Super Series Open on Saturday. The unseeded Verma created history of sorts by humbling the third seed Denmark’s Jorgenson 21-19, 24-22, while the China Open title winner Sindhu broke the hearts of Hong Kong spectators by defeating the local ace player Cheung Ngan Yi 21-14, 21-16 in their semifinals.
Cheung, who denied former World No-1 Saina Nehwal in quarterfinals a day before, proved no match to the Rio Olympic Silver medallist in the semifinals. By the first change over in the first game, Sindhu made her sweat with her net drops coupled with tactical baseline play. At no point of time, Sindhu lagged behind as her game plan went very well. There is a marked improvement in the fitness levels of Sindhu, who is riding on the crest of success. Sindhu will take on Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, who outsmarted Spain’s Carolina Marin in the first semi-final match of the day with a 21-17, 14-21, 21-16 in 68 minutes, in the finals.
Earlier, Sameer Verma sealed his berth for his maiden finals in the men’s singles by defeating third-seeded Jon O Jorgensen 21-19, 24-22. Jorgensen, winner of the China Open Super Series last week, couldn’t handle the 43rd in the world in the 46 minute battle.
From the word go, the 22-year-old Verma took control of the game and surged to a 8-4 lead. Jorgensen, who is very quick in the court, levelled scores at 10-10. Equally determined Verma opened up a 20-17 lead and closed out the set 21-19 on the third game point.
Jorgensen changed his strategies in the second set with a flurry of smart smashes to lead 7-1. As the Indian struggled to handle the situation, Jorgensen took the lead to 11-5 at the changeover. Verma resumed the game with a new look and won eight of the next nine points to lead 13-12 much to the surprise of the better ranked opponent. Jorgensen had to dig deep to ensure a comfortable lead of 20-17. Again Verma made a solid come back to win the next four points to secure a match point. Eventually he won the match on his second match point opportunity.
Verma, the current Indian national champion, had defeated Malaysia’s Chong Wei Feng 21-17, 23-21 in the quarterfinals. Now he will face Hong Kong’s NG Ka Long Angus in the final.
