Sindhu misses out on World gold again
Marin shows supreme form to tame Indian shuttler in straight games
PV Sindhu finished second best yet again in a major tournament final as she went down tamely to Carolina Marin in the World Championships’ women’s singles title clash, adding to the Indian’s tale of woes.
The Olympic silver medallist settled for another runners-up spot in the showpiece following a 21-19, 21-10 loss to Olympic champion Marin of Spain. Marin had also defeated Sindhu in the final of the Rio Olympics in 2016.
“It is very frustrating to lose again. Last time also I had played the finals. It is quite sad and I have to come back stronger and get back to the sessions and prepare for the next tournament,” said Sindhu, who suffered her fourth final loss this season. “Sometimes it is not your day, ups and downs will always be there and you have to always be stronger.
“I’m a bit sad because I was expecting a good one but overall it was a good match and I am happy I came to the finals. Winning and losing are parts of life and I have to take it as it is.”
Since 2016, it is Sindhu’s eighth loss in a major final, including defeats at the Rio Olympics, Hong Kong Open (2017, 2018), Super Series Final (2017), India Open (2018) and Thailand Open (2018).
The 23-year-old, who lost an epic final to Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara at Glasgow last year, didn’t have answers to Marin’s blistering pace in the 45 minutes that the match lasted.
The second silver meant Sindhu is the only Indian to have four world championships podium finishes. She had won two bronze medals at the 2013 Guangzhou and 2014 Copenhagen editions.
Marin became the first woman shuttler to win the world championships three times. She had won the title in 2014 and 2015.
“I can’t express my emotions,” Marin said. “I have so many emotions inside me. I have been waiting for this moment long time. I am happy I could believe in myself this week,” Marin said.
Sindhu had entered the summit clash with a 5-6 loss-win head-to-head against Marin, but the Indian ace had won the last meeting at the Malaysian Open in June.
“Carolina has that speed and she is very aggressive. She played very fast and quick paced during the tournament. I was prepared for her pace game,” Sindhu said. “I think overall, she played much better. If I could have won the first game it could have been different. In the second game, I made too many errors, my smashes were going out. I can just say it was not my day.
“I was leading 14-9 in the first game, I gave easy points. I made errors when I tried to get back into the pace. I should have been more patient at 19-19. She was attacking well.”
Kento Momota became the first Japanese to win the men’s singles, putting behind him a gambling scandal that threatened to ruin his career.
The explosive 23-year-old convincingly defeated China’s highly promising Shi Yuqi 21-11, 21-13 in Nanjing.