EPIC BATTLE AND A SILVER
Fiery Sindhu goes out guns blazing
P.V. Sindhu reaches for a shot against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the women’s singles final at the World Championships in Glasgow. Sindhu’s bid to become India’s first-ever World champion ended in a 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 loss in the longest match of the tournament that lasted one hour and 49 minutes.
Glasgow (Scotland), Aug. 27: Badminton ace P. V. Sindhu's gallant effort to become India’s first ever World Champion ended in a heart-wrenching defeat to Nozomi Okuhara in an epic final, here on Sunday.
In the longest match of the tournament, which tested the physical and mental strength of both the players, Sindhu lost 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 after battling for one hour and 49 minutes.
Their bodies falling apart as the match progressed Sindhu and Okuhara used every ounce of energy left to make it an epic contest.
After closing the second game by winning an incredible 73-shot rally, Sindhu saved a championship point in the decider but the Japanese had the last laugh.
Nevertheless, Sindhu fought like a true champion and kept her promise that she would strive to change the colour of her medal, having won two bronzes from past editions. Although she would have hoped for a gold, which no Indian has even won at the World Championship.
For India, it still was a historic edition since for the first time country’s shuttlers are returning with two medals — Saina Nehwal had secured bronze on Saturday after losing her semifinal.
Rio Olympic silver medallist Sindhu came into the match with a 3-all head-tohead record against Okuhara. But the Indian had an upper hand in their last two meetings — Rio Olympics and the 2017 Singapore Open.
Sindhu was a little sluggish to start with and was 35 at one point but she managed to reel off eight points on the trot to grab an 11-5 lead at the break. But the Japanese clawed back to 1414 beforemoving ahead.
In the second game, Sindhu raced to a 9-3 lead. But gritty Okuhara kept up the fight before going down.
In the decider, Okuhara opened up a 5-1 lead but Sindhu levelled it at 5-5. They moved neck and neck till 17-17 before the Indian grabbed a 19-17 lead. The Japanese levelled scores and then converted her second match point with a perfect return on Sindhu’s backhand.