US Open 2012: Hsiao Ma overthrows Kaori Imabeppu in Women’s Singles title match
Women’s Singles crown of Yonex OCBC US Open GPG belonged to Pai Hsiao Ma as she overpowered Kaori Imabeppu in the title match on Saturday, July 7, 2012.
This final match was undoubtedly the best encounter of the Grand Prix Gold event as it lasted for one hour and eight minutes.
Both contenders played their heart out during the three gruelling sets but Hsiao Ma claimed top spot of the victory stand by registering favourable result of 21-17, 16-21 and 21-11.
She played with great conviction and stamped her supremacy over her lower ranked rival in the opening and closing sets of the match.
Meanwhile, Kaori Imabeppu showed her spark in the middle but it was not enough to burn the opposing shuttler down.
First set of the match started with Hsiao Ma gaining an immediate lead and the Japanese lady storming back with a strong reply.
The Taipei player opened her marathon with a brisk attack and reached at dominating position of 7-4 but she could not carry this momentum and lost the next seven points in a row.
Kaori Imabeppu showed her brilliance in the game and finished the first half with a respectable total of 11-7.
However, her authority was dissolved right after the break as the opposing shuttler counter-balanced the situation.
World Number 27 player Hsiao Ma levelled the score at 12-12 and then gathered nine out of the ending 14 points to stamp her challenger with 21-17.
The Japanese shuttler did not lose heart and managed to stay in the contest by clinching the second set of the match.
Though, she was a bit confused in the beginning but then a few power packed rallies boosted her confidence.
Kaori Imabeppu managed to place a decent total of 11-10 before the interval and entered the second half as leading contender.
She cornered her competitor with a flurry of unbeatable strokes which ultimately helped her to claim the crucial match point with 21-16 margin.
The decider turned consequential with this revised status as both shuttlers were just one knock away from the portal of glory.
Unexpectedly, third set turned a dead contest as Hsiao Ma locked the honour by placing an overwhelming 21-11 figure on the board.
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