It’s Sindhu vs Carolina Marin final

Olympic silver medallist beats Sung, to take on Spanish rival for title

NEWDELHI: India’s PV Sindhu dug deep into her reserves as she outlasted Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun in three games on Saturday to set up a repeat of the Rio Olympics final clash against Spaniard Carolina Marin in the India Open World Super Series badminton.

Sindhu, the world No 5, weathered a fightback from Sung, the world No 4, before winning 21-14 18-21 21-14 to the cheers of a packed audience at the Siri Fort auditorium.

If emotion was a key content of the Rio silver medallist’s victory over compatriot Saina Nehwal in the quarterfinals on Friday, she was pushed by her determined Korean rival that asked questions of her tactics, fitness and mental strength.

‘’It was a long match, I was prepared both mentally and physically. I knew there will be long rallies and Sung will not give points easily. With that mindset, I entered the court,’’ SIndhu said after coming through the energysapping contest.

LONG RALLIES

Sung specialises in forcing long rallies, and on Saturday she showed she was much more than that as she didn’t give an inch. The long rallies, in fact, drained both the players.

Despite trailing, Sung always came back in the match. It put added pressure on the tall Indian shuttler.

Sindhu clinched the first game, but her Korean rival fought back to win the second.

In the decider, Sindhu took an early lead but still had to dig deep into her reserves to halt Sung. The Korean, in fact, was trailing

by six points, but narrowed the gap.

“Self belief helped me get out of the tricky situation to remain in contention for the title,” Sindhu told reporters.

FAMILIAR FOES

On facing Marin, Sindhu said: “It will be a good match as both of us know each other’s strong and weak points. But Sunday’s final will be different. I will chalk out the strategy to win the final too,’’ the 21-year-old Indian said.

Sindhu and Marin have met twice following the Indian’s Rio Olympics heartbreak.

The Spaniard won in the Premier Badminton League while Sindhu won at the year-ending Dubai Superseries finals in December.

Marin, who took the court before Sindhu did, had it much easier, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-16, 21-14.

In the men’s semifinal, it was mixed luck for the Denmark team. Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei beat Anders Antonsen of Denmark 21-17, 21- 14 to set up a title clash with Dane Viktor Axelsen, who defeated NG Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong 21-12, 21-13.