Pusarla Venkat Sindhu was the overwhelming favourite on the eve of the World badminton women’s singles final match at Glasgow. Despite she and Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara sharing a 3-3 head-to-head record before the finals, Sindhu’s win over the defending All England champion in last year’s Rio Olympics was expected to give a psychological edge for the Indian girl. Sindhu had overcome the formidable Chinese Chen Yufei in the last four which must have added a spring in her step. Also, one thought the Japanese girl would have tired out after her three-set semi–final win over Saina Nehwal.
Though Sindhu started well, one thought she couldn’t keep the momentum going in her favour after an early lead in the first set only to let slip the advantage. Experts had predicted that the lanky Sindhu’s height would come to her aid over the diminutive Okuhara, but in the end the shorter player appeared less exhausted and in a better position to retrieve the shuttle in long rallies that marked the one-hour-and-forty-nine-minute epic, nail-biting, battle which not only tested the nerves and endurance of both the top class players but also kept the jam-packed stadium and television viewers on the edge of their seats.
A 73-shot rally may have happened before in badminton; but the way both the graceful athletes moved like hares on the court was mesmerising. The viewers wanted more; but the players were apparently so tired that in the end the one player had to somehow scrape through and it was Okuhara. The smiling Japanese seemed to hold her nerves even as a perturbed Sindhu’s anxiety to finish the rallies was conspicuous. The perception that a longer match would tire Okuhara more than Sindhu was proved wrong in the end. Sindhu perhaps played the match of her career and the hard-working Indian has many more medals beckoning her.
Ever since she started playing big-time badminton form 2102, the Indian has a plethora of medals in her kitty. The All-England and World championship titles are definitely top on her priorities if not an Olympic gold. Coaches Pulella Gopichand and Mulyo Handoyo may look at a few chinks in Sindhu’s armour. One aspect they should look at is to improve upon her smashes by using her height. Be that as it may, Indian women badminton’s superstar fully deserves our salutations. Keep going, Sindhu.
