Marin stuns world no. 1
Copenhagen, Aug. 31: Spain’s Carolina Marin pulled off a monumental upset as she beat Chinese world number one Li Xuerui to win the women’s singles title at the Badminton World Championships in Copenhagen on Sunday.
The ninth seed recovered from dropping the opening game to the top seed and Olympic champion to complete an incredible 17- 21, 2117, 21- 18 victory and earn her country their first ever major title in the sport.
Earlier, China’s Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei won the country’s 12th straight gold medal in the event, beating compatriots Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli 21- 19, 21- 15 in the final. South Korea struck gold in the men's doubles as Ko Sung- hyun and Shin Baek- choel beat fellow countrymen Lee Yong- dae and Yoo Yeon-
seong 22- 20, 21- 23, 21- 18. On Saturday night, it was heartbreak for Sindhu who had to settle for a second consecutive bronze medal after succumbing to Carolina Marin of Spain in straight games in their semi- final clash.
Sindhu, seeded 11th, failed in her bid to become the first Indian women to reach the finals of the World Championship as her battle against ninth seeded opponent ended with a 17- 21, 15- 21 loss.
Sindhu had conjured up hopes of bettering the colour of her medal this year but she could not produce the same resilence and grit which saw her edge out sixth seed Korean Yeon Ju Bae and All England Champion Shixian Wang in the last two rounds.