PM Modi hails Sindhu on victory

NEW DELHI: A day after saving three match points in a gruelling semi-final, PV Sindhu was again pushed to three games in the China Open final.

PV Sindhu, however brought out the best to beat China’s Sun Yu 21-11, 17-21, 21-11 in 69 minutes to win her maiden Super Series title.

The world No 11 will now move back into the top 10 while Saina Nehwal, who crashed out in the first round, will slide to 11th from 6th.

Despite going into the match with a 2-3 head to head record, Sindhu raced off to a great start and used fine feints and drop shots to hassle her opponent. She wrapped up the first game in 18 minutes.

Though Sun Yu came back and won the second game, Sindhu rallied again to seal the decider and capture the crown at the Haixia Olympic Sports Center in Fuzhou .

Indians went on celebratory mode on Twitter following Sindhu’s win, hailing and congratulating the Rio Olympics silver medallist for the great show in China.

“Congratulations to @ Pvsindhu1 for her first super series title. Well played! #ChinaOpen,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was joined by a host of politicians, sportspersons, cricketers and Bollywood stars.

Earlier, Saina Nehwal had clinched the China Open in 2014 before finishing runners-up last year. Sindhu said she was happy to emulate the former world No. 1. “I did what Saina did in 2014 and I am very happy. It has been a dream for a long time to win a Super Series title. After the Olympics, everyone was asking me whats next? It was important for me,” Sindhu said.

Sindhu had reached her maiden Super Series final at the Denmark Open last year but the title eluded her then as she lost in straight games to 2012 Olympic champion China’s Li Xuerei.