PV Sindhu ended her journey in Singapore by winning the trophy. On Sunday, she defeated Chinese opponent Wang Zhiyi in close quarters. Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, the double medallist at the Olympics showed herself in a familiar mood.
Sindhu last played in the Korea Open final last March. Since then there was a trophy drought. It finally ended in the final match of the Singapore Open. She defeated China’s 22-year-old promising player Wang at 21-9, 11-21, 21-15.
The fight in the final was literally tight. At one time it seemed that anyone could win. In the first game, Sindhu practically blew away the Chinese opponent by hitting all the terrific smashes and perfect drop shots. She won the first game by 21-9 points. Unbelievable then, Wang came back in the second game to win 21-11 to make it 1-1. Even the decisive game was a close fight from the start. However, as time progressed, Sindhu’s aggression intensified. That is why the Indian star gradually moved forward after overcoming the initial inertia. And won the match at 21-15.
After winning the 58-minute final, Sindhu was heard saying, “This title is worth a lot to me. This win has given me a lot of confidence, which will help me take myself to better places.” Sindhu also said, “Several matches have been three-game battles throughout the week. But every match was important for me. For now, I will take some rest and concentrate on the Commonwealth Games. It is just the beginning. But again, success here is my confidence. I hope to win a medal in Birmingham as well.” Her analysis of the final match, “I played against her only once before. It is always difficult to win against an unknown opponent. But Wang played great. I started well. But in the second game, she got herself into a better position.” Adding, “I couldn’t catch Wang from that position. That is why every point has been fought for a long time. In the third game I found myself back after a while. So back with the trophy.”
PM’s message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur congratulated the Indian star who was delighted with Sindhu’s success. The Prime Minister tweeted, “Congratulations on winning the first Singapore Open title. She once again made a testament to exceptional sportsmanship. It’s a moment of pride for the entire country, which will inspire the up-and-coming players as well.”
Comments from the Korean coach
Many said the fight in Singapore was too easy for a player of Sindhu’s calibre just like five other matches in recent times. Her current coach Park Tae-sang has expressed his anger. He told the media, “Someone is saying that the competition here was very easy because the world’s best did not come. But that does not mean that Sindhu did not shine in the game. Quite the opposite is true. The real issue is who won the championship. These days she worked like crazy. Didn’t dodge that much. Her commitment to badminton always impresses.”