Rio repeat in New Delhi as PV Sindhu sets up India Open 2017 final with Carolina Marin

PV Sindhu pushed her way through to the India Open 2017 Super Series final after a 76 minute win over Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea. The Indian prevailed 21-18, 14-21, 21-14 in the semi-final at the Siri Fort Sports Complex. She will now have a chance at exactic revenge over Carolina Marin who had beaten Sindhu in the Rio Olympics gold medal match.
Marin, in the other semi-final, outdid Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi with ease to win 21-16, 21-14.
Sindhu looked jaded only in the second game of the semi-final with the game fluctuating multiple times with nerves on show. However, Sindhu stood tall and maintained her composure over the World No 4 Sung who came into the contest having beaten defending champion Ratchanok Intanon.
Sindhu produced a dominant display of badminton to win on the back of stronger mental toughness and improved her head-to-head over the Korean to 7-4 with the win. Sung would rue her errors at multiple stages in the match.
Sindhu displayed nerves of steel as she produced some scintillating low lifts and dominated the nets to see off



her opponent.
“I was prepared from the start because it’s always a long match. So, in the second game, I was leading 5-2 but made simple errors as I hit a mid court smash outside. From there she lead 11-6 and I tried, but she maintained the lead and finished it off,” Sindhu said.
The two-time world championship bronze medallist added, “In the decider, I was aggressive from the start. I remember last time I made some errors and gave her lead. So, I was prepared from the first point itself. She came back in the third but I told myself if she can win so many points why can’t I and so I believed myself.”
Talking about her final against Marin, Sindhu said: “At Dubai finals we played and I beat her but she defeated me at PBL but this time it will be at Delhi so I will have the support. But it will be a new game, new conditions, new style. She might know my game and I might know hers, we both will have this feeling that we won against each other. But it will be a fresh strategy, fresh game, so who plays best on that day will win. I just hope for the best.”