PV Sindhu won the Japan Open in July this season and the 31-year-old Indian, reached the second Super 750 tournament final this season
India’s PV Sindhu put up a strong fight before losing to Olympic and world champion An Se Young of Korea in the final of the Yonex French Open on Sunday. Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, has discovered a second wind this season and is challenging the top shuttlers after a long gap. Having struggled from injuries in the last couple of seasons, Sindhu has now returned to the court showing good fitness and hunger to chase the top titles on the circuit.
In the final against world No 1 An Se Young, Sindhu won the first game before the Korean bounced back to win 16-21, 21-11, 21-12. Sindhu was exceptional at the net in the first game and kept the length tight not giving any room to An to play her drop shots and reverse slices. An is a once in a generation player and always finds a way to counter her opponent attacks. Sindhu remained firm mixing her strokes. Though An found her range in the second game taking the shuttle early to score. It was fast and attacking badminton at its best from both players. The net play was equally gripping.
The match was tantalisingly poised in the third game until the midway. Both were looking to score but An had the legs and stamina to break free. Some of the midcourt smashes from Sindhu’s racquet came like a flash.
Sindhu won the Japan Open in July this season and the 31-year-old Indian, reached the second Super 750 tournament final this season.
With a new, shorter scoring system (3×15) to be introduced by BWF from next year, Sindhu seemed to have found her form at the right time.
EOM
