Singapore International Series: Rui Chen trounces Akane Yamaguchi in Women’s Singles opening round
Malaysia’s spirited female shuttler Rui Chen Yap played with great precision and outshined Akane Yamaguchi in opening round of Li-Ning Singapore International Series on August 15, 2012.
Though, this Women’s Singles encounter was concluded in just two games but still both contenders entertained the crowd with top class badminton.
The victorious shuttler took just 35 minutes to register winning figures of 21-19 and 21-19 on the board.
Meanwhile, the opposing shuttler put a laudable effort in both sets but luck was not on her side as she lost both games by a hair.
Now Rui Chen will meet either Yeni Asmarani or Evgenia Dimova in pre quarter-finals of this international series.
She will utilise her confidence which she has earned through a splendid straight-set victory in opening match.
The Malaysian lady set the ball rolling in very first set as she gained an immediate advantage by grabbing few valuable points without any interruption.
Throughout the first half, she displayed variety in her strokes and confounded her challenger. She did not lost focus at any stage of the game and placed a mountainous total of 11 before the interval.
Later part of the game added thrill into contest as the opposing shuttler switched on the best and counter-balanced the situation with couple of power packed rallies.
The Japanese campaigner caught her competitor in third quarter of the set and remained close all the way to game point situation.
However, Akane blundered in crucial moments which ultimately cost her vital match point with 19-21 score on the board.
There was lot of drama also the in second set of match as Akane was in strong position at one stage and it was felt that she will easily avoid a straight-set defeat but then Rui Chen came in her way and pushed her back into the dark.
In the first half, the Malaysian player was struggling to find her lost rhythm and she kept trailing behind her opponent.
After the break, she showed transformed character and blew her rival away with a gutsy performance. Rui Chen raised hands as champion after putting a tight yet decisive figure of 21-19.
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