Bangkok: Reigning World champion P V Sindhu claimed a straight-game win over Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan to make an impressive start to her women's singles campaign at the Toyota Thailand Open Super 1000 tournament here on Tuesday.
A week after being sent packing by Denmark's Mia Blichfeldt in the first event of Asia's leg, Sindhu showed great discipline and focus to see off world no 12 Busanan 21-17 21-13 in the opening match.
The win took Sindhu's head-to-head count against Busanan to 11-1. The only time the Indian lost to the Thai player was at the Hong Kong Open in 2019.
Sindhu will face either Korea's Sung Ji Hyun or Soniia Cheah in the second round.
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TOYOTA Thailand Open
— BWFScore (@BWFScore) January 19, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
WS - Round of 32
21 21 🇮🇳V. Sindhu PUSARLA🏅
17 13 🇹🇭Busanan ONGBAMRUNGPHAN
🕗 in 43 minutes
https://t.co/mJt75HilgK
TOYOTA Thailand Open
WS - Round of 32
21 21 🇮🇳V. Sindhu PUSARLA🏅
17 13 🇹🇭Busanan ONGBAMRUNGPHAN
🕗 in 43 minutes
https://t.co/mJt75HilgK
TOYOTA Thailand Open
— BWFScore (@BWFScore) January 19, 2021
WS - Round of 32
21 21 🇮🇳V. Sindhu PUSARLA🏅
17 13 🇹🇭Busanan ONGBAMRUNGPHAN
🕗 in 43 minutes
https://t.co/mJt75HilgK
Sindhu opened up an 8-6 lead in the opening game but Busanan managed to turn the tables, gaining a 13-9 advantage at one stage. The Indian slowly erased the deficit and moved to an 18-16 lead before reeling off the remaining points to earn the bragging rights.
After the change of sides, Sindhu seemed more determined as she zoomed to a 7-2 lead before entering the break with an 11-5 advantage.
Sindhu reached 19-8 with five straight points. The Indian mistimed a shot and then Busanan produced a cross-court smash. Sindhu also lost a point at the net.
But Busanan eventually hit wide to hand seven match points to Sindhu and she sealed the contest with a powerful smash.
