Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu made a winning start to her maiden appearance at the prestigious BWF World Super Series Final, defeating higher-ranked Japanese Akane Yamaguchi 12-21, 21-8, 21-15 in an entertaining opening women’s singles Group B match in Dubai on Wednesday.

“It was a good match and a long match, I am really happy that I won because this is my first time here,” said Sindhu, who won 13 points from 7-7 in the second game to put the brakes on Yamaguchi’s challenge before outhitting her in the third.

Results:

Women’s Singles

Group A: Sung Ji Hyun (KOR) beat Ratchanok Inyanon (THA) 21-19, 21-12; Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) beat He Bingjiao (CHN) 21-16, 21-13.

Group B: Sun Yu (CHN) beat Carolina Marin (ESP) 21-18, 24-22; PV Sindhu (IND) beat Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) 12-21, 21-8, 21-15.