Live Blog: Sindhu Loses Final vs World Number 1 in 3 Tough Games
Waiting with bated breath for the gold! Way to go, PV Sindhu!
PV Sindhu: The Determined, Ambitious Olympian
Sindhu has been actively posting about her preparation for the Olympics on her Facebook account.
Tendulkar, Mary Kom Congratulate Sindhu
Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Sindhu on her feat on Friday.
Boxer Mary Kom also said she hoped that Sindhu bags a gold medal for the country.
Milkha Singh too congratulated Sindhu and her family, talking about the need to harness talent in the country.
Prayers Offered Across the Country for Sindhu
Sindhu’s father, PV Ramana offered prayers at Ratnalamma Temple in Andhra Pradesh as his daughter is all set to compete in the finals on Friday.
Special pujas were also arranged in Mumbai and Agra.
Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt’s mother Sushila Devi went to the Gauri Shankar temple to pray for her son’s and Sindhu’s success.
The Indian ace once again took on a higher ranked opponent, Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara who is placed 6th in the world, but showed no signs of the billing — Sindhu cruised through the match with a 21-19, 21-10 scoreline.
The 21-year-old is now the first-ever Indian to reach the finals of a badminton event at the Olympics. The only other medalist from India in the sport was Saina Nehwal who won the Bronze at London 2012. Sindhu next faces World Number 1 Carolina Marin in the finals on Friday night.
The second semifinal of Men’s Singles has ended. China’s Long Chen advances to the finals. Next up, India’s PV Sindhu takes on Carolina Marin.
As the Men’s Singles Badminton semifinal between Long Chen and Victor Axelson is still going on, PV Sindhu’s clash with Carolina Marin has been delayed.
Amidst all the gloom your dailies deliver to you fresh off the press, Indians have been catching quite a break lately with more than one reason to rejoice.
After Sakshi Malik’s historic bronze on Wednesday night, PV Sindhu made it to the gold medal match of the Women’s Singles Badminton event and to no one’s surprise, social media platforms unfurled their wings, leaving no stones unturned.
- PV Sindhu marches into the gold medal match of the Women’s Singles Badminton event
- She beat Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara with a 21-19, 21-10 scoreline on Thursday
- Sindhu now faces World Number 1 Carolina Marin in the finals on Friday night
- The 21-year-old is now the first-ever Indian to reach the finals of a badminton event at the Olympics
- The match will start shortly
Players Out on Court
Our Golden Girl is on court and she’s wearing her lucky yellow. Sindhu and Marin warming up as we await the epic encounter.
Marin Races to 4-2 Lead
The world number 1 invites Sindhu to the net but a smash to close out the point and India with the early defecit
7-4 to Marin: It’s the Marin serve and Sindhu smashes it back to her. Not much juice from the other end of the net as the shuttle ends at the net.
6-3 to Marin: Sindhu serves long and the Spaniard has an easy point in this one.
Sindhu Takes The First Set!
We are on fire!
OK, I mean Sindhu.
The Indian has clawed her way back into the match, but gone one better! One game closer to a Gold medal.
21-19 to our Champ!
19-18 to Marin: Both players are at the net and Sindu comes out of it with a point.
19-16 to Marin: Another long rally and Marin smashes it plum in the centre of Sindhu’s court. The Indian though has now reply.
17-15 to Marin: India’s point!!! The longest rally of the match so far has Sindhu chasing the shuttle to all sides of the court BUT in the end, Marin hits a return long and... the arena is on their feet! (So is our office)
16-15 to Marin: Sindhu’s serve isn’t one Marin could get past the net this time. Again, a point from the net
15-13 to Marin: Marin’s return is long and Sindhu gets this one. Lead is now down to two points.
13-10 to Marin: Sindhu forces an error from Marin and the shuttle once again catches the net.
Do we see Pullela Gopichand actually pumped in the corner?!
12-8 to Marin: Marin forces Sindhu to miss a plum but the umpire gifts India the point. The net was disturbed by the world number 1.
11-6 to Marin: A long rally heading into the first break of the match. Marin hits it light but Sindhu cant make it to the net in time.
A five point advantage.
9-6 to Marin: 15 points played in the first game and Marin’s return is wide. Sindhu with the point but her opponent still holds a heavy lead.
The Match is Level
The world number 1 uses 22 minutes to draw things level for the Gold medal.
21-12 in the second. Anyone got nails left for a third(??)
Sindhu/Marin vs The Net
There’s a third competitor in this match and it may just be leading the points count(if we did get down to counting) Both players failing the shuttle to the other side on multiple occasions. 20-11 to Marin right now
A Third Game on the Cards?
Carolina Marin has raced to an 18-11 lead. But just as I wrote the header, Sindhu forced an error of Marin.
13-6 to Marin:
Oh the little joys of video referral!
Sindhu appeals after Marin’s return was given in. And she was right, by a millllllimeter.
12-5 to Marin: Sindhu wins two points immediately after the break but some sneaky net play from Marin and she’s on the board again(again).
Sindhu Left Out? Carolina Marin is a flurry of smashes and cool returns. The left hander giving Sindhu a bit more trouble in this game.
By bit, I mean Marin leads 11-2 at the break.
6-2 to Marin: Sindhu’s game is littered with a few errors and it’s not helping(so sorry, so obvious)
Point for Sindhu: We are on the board! Marin goes long and it’s 4-1 to Spaniard.
Marin has come out stronger in the second, sweeping the first three points for a 3-0 lead.
PV Sindhu has lost the gold medal match.
OR
She’s won India it’s first silver of the Games.
Final scoreline: 21-19 12-21 15-21
6 Match Points to Marin
19-14 to Marin
Nerves nerves.
Sindhu serves wide
Sindhu’s point:
A long nerve-wracking rally but this one ends up on the Indian tally.
The next as well.
16-14 to Marin.
Just two points between the two. Two.
15-12 to Marin
14-11 to Marin
12-10 to Marin:
Another cool smash. Another big point to the world number 1.
AND WE ARE LEVEL!!!!!!!!
10-10
Body Smash!
Helllooooo Leander Paes!
Marin’s lead is now down to just one point. 10-9
Sindhu Returns
It’s Marin’s serve. A little net play and she wants out. A wide return and Sindhu has the point.
THE NEXT ONE AS WELL!
AND THE NEXT
9-8 to Marin
6-3 to Marin:
Both players staying back and Marin’s forced into an error. Wide on her right.
The next is won by the Indian as well. (Yaey!)
5-1 to Marin
2-1 to Marin: First two points go to the world number 1 but our Golden girl’s not gonna sit back. A long long rally and Marin is forced into an error. The net coming to India’s rescue this time.
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