Dubai: Shuttler PV Sindhu avenged her heart-breaking loss at the Rio Games to two-time World Champion Carolina Marin with a thrilling straight-game victory in a do-or-die women’s singles Group B contest here Friday. The Indian’s 21-17, 21-13 victory in 46 minutes over the Spaniard helped her book her maiden semifinal berth in the BWF World Super Series Finals.
With this win, Sindhu finished in the second place behind China’s Sun Yu, who won all her three matches, in Group B.
The match started on a fast note with both Sindhu and Marin going for each other’s jugular. Sindhu led 2-0 early on but Marin soon made it 7-3 in her favour with the Indian making some unforced errors.
Sindhu reeled five points in a row then to lead 8-7 and maintained her lead at the break, 11-10.
After that there was no looking back as Sindhu’s body smashes took a toll on Marin. Sindhu extended her lead to 16-12 and then to 20-14. Marin saved three game points but Sindhu won the game when the Spaniard hit long.
The second game was easier for Sindhu as she led at the break 11-6, then extended it to 17-10. Marin narrowed the gap to 17-13, but then Sindhu reeled off four straight points to exact sweet revenge for her Olympic defeat.
Press Trust of India
