Sindhu first Indian shuttler to enter final, Saina gets bronze
JAKARTA : PV Sindhu became the first Indian to enter an Asian Games badminton final when she beat world No 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-17, 15-21, 21-10 in women’s singles semi-final here on Monday.
World No 3 Sindhu will face world No 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in Tuesday’s gold medal match. Tai beat world No 10 Saina Nehwal 21-17, 21-14 in the other semi-final. “I didn’t do well in the first match at the Games here (when Vietnam’s Vu Thi Trang took her to three games), but thereafter I have improved in every round. I hope to continue my good run against Tai in the final. I’m determined to give my best shot,” said Sindhu.
By making the semi-final, Saina was assured of a bronze, her first from the Games in her third attempt. Before Saina and Sindhu made the medal rounds, India’s only badminton singles medallist was Syed Modi, who bagged a bronze in men’s singles at the 1982 Asian Games.
At a packed GBK Istora auditorium, Sindhu showed great deception and control. She led 11-8 before racing ahead to 14-10. Yamaguchi managed to narrow the gap to 14-17 but Sindhu, silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics and at the World Championships this year, proved unstoppable in the first game.
The second game provided a twist as Sindhu, despite leading 10-6, lost her rhythm, allowing Yamaguchi to take control from 10-all. Yamaguchi, a world championship bronze medallist having lost to Sindhu in the semi-final earlier this month, used deceptive flicks to make it one game all.
Sindhu regained composure in the decider and had Yamaguchi dancing to her tune; led 2-1 and then raced ahead to 11-7. She continued to dictate terms against the diminutive Japanese and stretched her lead to 16-8.
This time there would be no comeback as Sindhu conceded just two more points before sending a powerful smash to Yamaguchi’s backhand which wasn’t returned. The tie lasted 70 minutes. “It wasn’t easy but I was prepared for a long match as she plays a lot of long rallies. Yamaguchi got too many net cords and even I was surprised for a while,” said Sindhu.
London Olympics bronze medallist Saina found it hard to match Tai, who has now beaten the Indian in 10 straight ties. Tai was in her elements and never allowed Saina to lead after levelling the score at 10-all in the first game. Saina reduced the gap, reaching 15-16 but Tai claimed the first game easily.
Tai, an Incheon Games bronze medallist, continued her dominance in the second game showing good court coverage and excellent retrieving skills in the 36-minute match. Saina led once at 13-12 but failed to seize the initiative and from 14-all it was Tai all the way. “I needed to be quicker and have smoother movement, lot more shots as well to finish the rallies. Somewhere, she will catch you. Every rally is different with her. Most players have set patterns but she has got a variety of shots,” said Saina. “She is someone who is not easy to read. Not all coaches can read her. As a player I have tried to read but she always comes up with a new shot. She has a complete game. You don’t know where to play her and where to get the points.”