BWF World Championships, Final: PV Sindhu vs Nozomi Okuhara — As it happened...

It was so near yet so far for PV Sindhu. The Indian ace fought back to force a decider against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the women's singles final of the BWF World Championships on Sunday in Glasgow.

The two first-time finalists engaged in one of the best matches of the tournament and produced a thrilling encounter. Okuhara won the match 21-19, 20-22, 22-20 in 1 hour 50 minutes. It's also the longest match of the tournament.

India, however, returned with two medals thanks to Sindhu's silver and Saina Nehwal's bronze. Interestingly. Okuhara beat both the Indian girls en route to Japan's first world title. In the semis too, she survived a three-game clash against Nehwal.

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22:38 PM IST: Men's Singles Final — Victor Axelsen won the second game 21-16 to win the title. Hard luck Lin Dan. It was one way traffic in Glasgow. The Dane proved a giant-killer as he toyed with the five-time world champion in the grandest stage of all.

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22:13 PM IST: Men's Singles Final — Victor Axelsen won the first game 22-20 in 27 minutes. Expect Lin Dan to play an attacking game now.

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21:57 PM IST: Men's Singles Final — Victor Axelsen led Lin Dan 11-9 before the Dane took a time-out to fix his bleeding knee.

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21:40 PM IST: Next up is the men's singles final between Chinese legend Lin Dan and Victor Axelsen. Dan needs no introduction, while Axelsen is a future legend and reigning Olympic bronze medallist. Dan is playing his seventh singles final, of which he won five.

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THIRD GAME

21:22 PM IST: PV Sindhu 22-20 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu somehow fought back to force a deuce. In the previous point, Sindhu sent her return long to give the Japanese girl the championship point. Then, at deuce, Sindhu crashed her short return to the net to give another championship point to Okuhara. Then, Okuhara killed off a long relay to win the title. First for Japan, and almost a first for India too.

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21:17 PM IST: PV Sindhu 19-19 Nozomi Okuhara — Driving everyone crazy with brilliant play. Okuhara teased Sindhu with deadly drops shots, but the Indian shuttler was upto to the task, until the fourth drop. She failed to move. Body numbing, as they say.

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21:15 PM IST: PV Sindhu 19-18 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu won the next point to take a a two-point advantage, even as Okuhara's challenge return negative. But Okuhara won the next point to make it 18-19. Sindhu missed the shuttle, and she slumped in the ground. Not over though, she got up and...

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21:12 PM IST: PV Sindhu 16-16 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu played neat trick shot in the net, and won the point, Okuhara was there to pick the shuttle, but the near-perfect net play undid her efforts. Then, Okuhara exploited Sindhu's sluggish movement by gently planting a a smash shot. But Okuhara is also equally tired. Sindhu played a push shot, and the Japanese girl failed to keep the shuttle in play. Meanwhile, this encounter has become the longest match of the tournament.

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21:09 PM IST: PV Sindhu 16-16 Nozomi Okuhara — The Indian ace won the next two points, then deploy herself in a defensive mode. And the result, a teasing drop point from Okuhara which she failed to retrieve. Sindhu is struggling with her movement.

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21:06 PM IST: PV Sindhu 14-15 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu lost the next point, but fought back to win the following relay. At 14-14, Okuhara produced a killer smash which Sindhu failed to keep in play.

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21:04 PM IST: PV Sindhu 13-13 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu lost another challenge. 'On court, on court' called by the chair umpire, and warning to Sindhu. Then, Okuhara won the next point to take a one point lead. But Sindhu was not over. She won the next point with a deft touch at the near post.

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21:00 PM IST: PV Sindhu 12-11 Nozomi Okuhara — What a rally. Okuhara dictated Sindhu in a long rally, but the Indian shuttler, struggling to move, failed to reach to the shuttle. It was fourth drop shot on the trot from the Japanese girl. At 11-11, Sindhu produced a brilliant net play to take the lead once again.

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20:56 PM IST: PV Sindhu 11-9 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu increased the lead thanks to an unforced error from Okuhara, who sent her return long on, before the players change sides at 20 points.

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20:55 PM IST: PV Sindhu 10-9 Nozomi Okuhara — But Okuhara is one agile, super fast player. She used both the flanks, dragging the tall Indian shuttler on either side with each cross court smash shot. Set up brilliantly to win the next point as a visibly resigned Sindhu let the shuttle land inside the first court. Okuhara took the next point too. Then, Sindhu asked for a break to tie her shoe laces. Irritating, as the commentators say. And chair umpire asked the game to continue. Sindhu, then, produced a killer smash to win the next point.

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20:51 PM IST: PV Sindhu 9-7 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu for the first time read the flight right and let it go on the right tramline. 7-7 and both the players took a deserving break. Then, the chair umpire asked Sindhu to change the shuttle. Sindhu's mother, in the crowd, came in camera and she cheered for her daughter, who won the next two points.

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20:48 PM IST: PV Sindhu 6-7 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu changed her racquet, and won the next point with a pin point drop shot, which Okuhara failed to retrieve. At 6-6, Sindhu failed in her drop shot, with the shuttle crashing into the net.

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20:46 PM IST: PV Sindhu 5-6 Nozomi Okuhara — The Indian ace then leveled the points with a body blow. Sindhu then lost the next point, thanks to an unforced error at the net.

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20:44 PM IST: PV Sindhu 4-5 Nozomi Okuhara — What a defensive play from the Indian shuttler. Sindhu waited for the shuttle to arrive and kept the play alive with a tidy flick. After winning the point, Sindhu went for towel and was instructed not to hold the shuttle by feathers by the chair umpire. Sindhu then played a controlled rally , ending with a reverse slice.

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20:40 PM IST: PV Sindhu 1-4 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu lost the momentum early into the third game, conceding a three-point lead to her opponent. She is struggling physically.

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SECOND GAME

20:34 PM IST: PV Sindhu 22-20 Nozomi Okuhara — Luck has its play today more than once, this time Sindhu riding on it. Her desperate pick up sailed just enough to beat Okuhara and land inside the far corner. Then, on game point, Sindhu and Okuhara engaged themselves in one of the greatest rallies to win it with a magical return. Both the players were exhausted. 73 shot rally.

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20:32 PM IST: PV Sindhu 20-20 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu failed to convert three game points, with the last one an unlucky net play.

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20:30 PM IST: PV Sindhu 20-19 Nozomi Okuhara — Good return of service from Okuhara. It was followed by another point for the Japanese girl to make it 19-20.

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20:29 PM IST: PV Sindhu 20-17 Nozomi Okuhara — Court mopped and the players resumed their game. Sindhu lost the next point, playing her return underneath the net. She doubled the lead with a close net play, which Okuhara failed to keep in play. Then, a wide return on her left to be in game point 17.

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20:26 PM IST: PV Sindhu 18-16 Nozomi Okuhara — The Japanese girl played decisive net play, luring Sindhu to the net. Sindhu, an expert in mind-game, used time to tie her shoe laces. Good break for everyone. Then, Sindhu won the next point as Okuhara failed to reach to the shuttle. Good drop shot from the Indian shuttler.​

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20:24 PM IST: PV Sindhu 17-15 Nozomi Okuhara — The Japanese girl responded with a good attacking play. Sindhu's return crashed into the net. The Indian shuttler complained about the playing surface. Slippery? But the chair umpire was not convinced. Sindhu won the next point. It worked. Okuhara then played a brilliant smash shot to make it 15-17.

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20:21 PM IST: PV Sindhu 16-13 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu then toyed with her opponent, and won a brilliant point after a long relay. Okuhara, for her part, was brilliant in her retrievals. Such a fast player. 43 shots rally. And Shindu is back.

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20:19 PM IST: PV Sindhu 14-13 Nozomi Okuhara — Then, like in the first game, Okuhara took the lead. But it was shortlived. Sindhu produced a well-placed drop shot, which Okuhara faAiled to keep in play. Another brilliant play as Sindhu escaped with a lucky point on close net play. Meanwhile, Japanese camp complained from double hit by the Indian, which the match officials ignored.

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20:16 PM IST: PV Sindhu 12-12 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu lost all her challenges. She misread the line call and went for the challenge, but the shuttle was hitting the line. A drop shot from Okuhara meant that the points are 12-12.

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20:15 PM IST: PV Sindhu 12-10 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu resumed the proceedings losing a point on her serve. She once again left a return from Okuhara. Then a brilliant play from Sindhu left Okuhara gasping, literally, for air. The Indian ace then lost control of her return.

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20:10 PM IST: PV Sindhu 11-8 Nozomi Okuhara — Okuhara killed off a tight relay with a standing smash on Sindhu's left court, and the difference is now one point. But Sindhu got lucky as Okuhara played  into the net. Sindhu increased the lead to 11-8 before taking a time-out.

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20:08 PM IST: PV Sindhu 9-6 Nozomi Okuhara — Two points on the trot for Okuhara. Sindhu then challenged an Out call on her cross court smash. Just missed the line. Challenge failed.

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20:06 PM IST: PV Sindhu 9-3 Nozomi Okuhara — Just about perfect drill from Sindhu. She forced Okuhara to another forced error, into the net. Then, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist sent another return long to give Sindhu 9-3 lead.

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20:04 PM IST: PV Sindhu 6-2 Nozomi Okuhara — Not so good call from Sindhu to let go a seemingly long return from Okuhara. Now, the lead has been reduced to three points. But Sindhu got a reason to rejoice as Okuhara this time sent the return long, just.

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20:02 PM IST: PV Sindhu 4-0 Nozomi Okuhara — The Rio Olympics silver medallist than increased the lead to two points, then three with Okuhara committing a series unforced errors.

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20:00 PM IST: PV Sindhu 1-0 Nozomi Okuhara — The Japanese girl, confident from her first game win, tried a smash which missed the tramline.

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FIRST GAME

19:57 PM IST: PV Sindhu 19-21 Nozomi Okuhara — But Sindhu's not giving up. Won a crucial point to level at 19-19. Then, she crashed her drop shot into the net, thus giving the set point to Okuhara. After a long relay, the Japanese girl won the first game.

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19:55 PM IST: PV Sindhu 18-19 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu then won the next point to make it 17-18 even as the 'Sindhu, Sindhu' chant grew louder in Dublin. Indian shuttler won another point to make it 18-18. But Okuhara played a reverse flip to perfection to break Sindhu's good run.

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19:53 PM IST: PV Sindhu 16-18 Nozomi Okuhara — Another long smash from the Indian shuttler. Pressure telling on Sindhu. Lucky to have get a point, thanks to a mistake from her opponent at the near post. It was followed by another mistake from the Japanese girl, into the net. Two points difference.

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19:51 PM IST: PV Sindhu 14-17 Nozomi Okuhara — The Japanese girl took a two-point lead, with a smash. Sindhu, now error prone, challenged her long smash. Futile.

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19:48 PM IST: PV Sindhu 14-13 Nozomi Okuhara — Both the players committed errors. Then, Okuhara's smash was too deep for Sindhu to successfully retrieve. Into the net again. The Japanese girl has increased the tempo now. 

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19:46 PM IST: PV Sindhu 13-11 Nozomi Okuhara — A couple of exchanges , then both the players engaged in a stunningly fast relay with Sindhu once again crashing the shuttle into the net, at the very same area, on her left court. It was followed by a tidy net play from the Japanese girl to make it 11-13. Sindhu was ready to pounce on, but the deep drop meant an unforced error from her.

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19:43 PM IST: PV Sindhu 12-8 Nozomi Okuhara — Soon after the time-out, Sindhu sent her back-hand return long. Then Okuhara played a deceptive short shot to reduce the gap. But Sindhu has her own deception. Sindhu crashed the next net play.

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19:40 PM IST: PV Sindhu 11-5 Nozomi Okuhara — Sindhu then increased the lead to 9-5 after neat net-play. It became 10-5 after Okuhara sent her shot long. Then another forced error on the far court to make it 11-5. Time-out.

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19:38 PM IST: PV Sindhu 7-5 Nozomi Okuhara — But the Indian shuttler took advantage of her reach in a net play, then exploited the short reach of her opponent to kill off a grand relay. It was followed by a brilliantly executed drop shot to take two point lead.

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19:36 PM IST: PV Sindhu 3-5 Nozomi Okuhara — For the first time, a two-point gap, with Okuhara taking the lead after a service fault and long play from the Indian shuttler.

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19:35 PM IST: PV Sindhu 3-3 Nozomi Okuhara — An even contest in Glasgow, as both the players engaged in defensive plays. Indian player missed the flight of the shuttle, which landed in her first court, to give the Japanese girl  3-2 lead. Then, on the following point, Sindhu challenged successfully a line call.

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19:30 PM IST: PV Sindhu 1-1 Nozomi Okuhara — First point to the Indian shuttler, but the Japanese girl responded with her own first point.

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19:30 PM IST: Women's Singles Final - Both the players are ready. PV Sindhu to serve first.

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19:05 PM IST: Women's Doubles Final - The Chinese pair of Qingchen Chen/Yifan Jia won the doubles title defeating their Japanese pair of Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota in three games, 21-18, 17-21, 21-15

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18:55 PM IST: Women's Doubles Final - The Chinese pair has taken a good lead of nine points after the change over in the decider. 14-5

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18:37 PM IST: Women's Doubles Final - The Japanese pair of Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota took the second game to force a decider. They won 21-17. Sindhu-Okuhara match is next.

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18:10 PM IST: Women's Doubles Final - But the Chinese pair produced a brilliant fight back to take the first game, 21-18.

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18:00 PM IST: Women's Doubles Final - The Japanese pair Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota has taken a 14-12 over the Chinese pair of Qingchen Chen/Yifan Jia lead in the first game.

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17:50 PM IST: Here's everything you need to know about the two finalists:

PV Sindhu (IND)

Date of birth: 7/5/1995
Place of birth: Hyderabad, India
Height: 179 cm
Play: Right handed
International Debut (Senior): At the age of 17
Equipment sponsor and racket model:N-9 Li ning
Women's Singles title: 9, including a Super Series Premier crown

Nozomi Okuhara (JAP)

Date of birth: 3/13/1995
Place of birth: Nagano, Japan
Height: 156 cm
Play: Right handed
International Debut (Senior): At the age of 15
Equipment sponsor and racket model: Mizuno
Women's Singles title: 6, including a Super Series Premier crown

Head-to-head: It's 3-3, with Sindhu winning the last two meetings at Rio Olympics and Singapore Open.

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17:42 PM IST: Meanwhile, here’s the complete list of Indian medallists in history of BWF World Championships.

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17:40 PM IST: Yesterday, on a mixed day for Indian badminton, the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist entered the final, even as Saina Nehwal suffered a heart-breaking lost in their respective semis. Fourth seed Sindhu crushed Chinese ninth seed Chen Yufei 21-13, 21-10 in 48 minutes to set-up a title clash with seventh seed Nozomi Okuhara, who defeated Indian 12th seed Saina 12-21, 21-17, 21-10.

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17:35 PM IST: The women's singles final will be held just after the women's doubles final between Qingchen Chen/Yifan Jia of China and Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota of Japan.

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17:25 PM IST: Focus is on PV Sindhu, as the 22-year-old takes on Japanese Nozomi Okuhara in the women's singles final on the final day of the 2017 BWF World Championships in Glasgow. Follow our live commentary from the final's action.

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New Delhi: PV Sindhu will take on Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the final of the world championships. She may well be considered the favourite considering that she is seeded four which is higher when compared to her opponent who is seeded seven.

Earlier, on Saturday, Sindhu stormed into the final of the championship by defeating reigning junior world champion Chen Yufei of China 21-13 21-10.

Sindhu maybe the favourite but will know that Okuhara is a tough opponent. Okuhara entered the final by defeating Saina Nehwal in the first semi-final in the women’s singles section on Saturday itself. Saina eventually had to settle for a bronze medal.

Sindhu has won two bronze medals at the world championships in 2013 and 2014, but she will be looking to clinch her first major global gold this time around.

Okuhara on the other hand became the first Japanese to make it to the final of the world championships.

Here are the details on the match:

Date:

The big final of the world championships will be on August 27, Sunday

Time:

The final of the women’s singles will begin at 6.15 pm IST (tentative)

Venue:

The current championship is being played in Glasgow, Scotland