SINDHU SCALED WALL OF CHINA

Vijay Anand

Winning the Super Series Premier badminton tournament is like winning an ATP 2000 event. Only 5 such events took place in the world. Naturally, competition is at the toughest level here. Double world cup medalist and an Olympic silver medalist has no such accolade in her cabinet. Now, with the win over Sun Yu of China in the final, she has one. It was one hour nine minute grueling exercise which she prevailed.

Chinese ladies have dominated the event to very cruel degree. It can be gauged by the fact that only Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia and Saina Nehwal were the only exceptional name in the list of winners of ladies singles of China Open since the inauguration of the event, 1986.

It’s an irony that she met Chinese girls from QF onwards. A day before the final, she got involved in one of the toughest matches of her career. She tamed Sung JI Hyun in 3 grueling sets which consumed 1 hour 28 minutes. In the second game, she was facing 3 match points. From there, she upped the ante and won 23-21.In the third game, form 18 all, she pushed her strengths and moved to the final.

When fellow Indians continued to fall (Sai Praneeth, Ajay Jairam, H S Pranoy and Saina Nehwal), it was up to Sindhu to carry the Indian flag from Semi final onwards. She took the responsibility and tamed 3 dragons from quarterfinal onwards.

She has given mundane results in Super series. Previous year, she reached her first Super series final at Denmark but the title eluded her as she lost in straight games to Li Xuerei. This victory must have silenced her critics. She has now matured a lot and more fitting in hour plus matches. Her coolness and level has only risen.   

After the win, she said that people were asking me when you will win Super Series event. “Finally, I have one. “  Sindhu has a stupendous year by far. Her shine continues to illuminate global events. Finally, she has scaled the wall of China.