PV Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, breezed into the women’s singles final of the Syed Modi International Super 300 badminton tournament with a resounding victory over Unnati Hooda on Saturday.
Top-seeded Sindhu overwhelmed the 17-year-old in straight games, 21-12, 21-9, in a 36-minute contest that underscored her dominance. Hooda, despite her spirited effort, faltered with numerous unforced errors, enabling Sindhu to control proceedings from start to finish.
Speaking after her win, Sindhu said: “I am happy with today’s performance. From the beginning, I maintained the lead. I was just trying out a few strokes and overall, I was confident with the way I was playing.”
The former world champion, currently ranked 18th globally, extended her well-wishes to Hooda, calling her “an upcoming player” while adding, “I think Unnati played her best, but I didn’t give her a chance to overtake me. I was leading from the beginning to the end.”
Sindhu’s victory sets up a clash against either Thailand’s Lalinrat Chaiwan or China’s Wu Luo Yu in the final as she chases her third Syed Modi International crown.
Sindhu’s semifinal match was a masterclass in precision and consistency. After an early 5-3 lead punctuated by a sharp cross-court drop, Sindhu pushed ahead to an 11-8 advantage at the interval.
Hooda attempted to stay in contention with calculated drops and pushes but faltered due to misjudged lifts and wayward smashes.
The errors mounted in the second game as Sindhu surged ahead to an 11-4 lead at the break, extending it further with a series of smashes and deft drop shots.
Hooda managed to save one match point but handed Sindhu victory with another error.
Reflecting on her form, Sindhu remarked, “I am definitely happy with the way I am going. Definitely, there is a scope for a lot of improvement... it’s not just that if we finish training or if we are at the top, we don’t have to train. Every day is a new process, and I am doing that.”
Sindhu also addressed her struggles at the Paris Olympics, saying, “I know Paris was not a good one for me. I have tried my best, but it doesn’t matter. I need to get back stronger. So, I am working on myself.”
Mixed doubles success for Crasto and Kapila
Earlier in the day, India’s mixed doubles duo of Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila booked their place in the final with an emphatic 21-16, 21-15 win over China’s Zhi Hong Zhou and Jia Yi Yang.
Their victory, achieved in 42 minutes, sets up a clash against the winner of the other semifinal featuring Chinese and Thai pairs.
Sindhu’s triumph and the mixed doubles victory offer a promising outlook for Indian badminton as the Syed Modi International enters its final stage.
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