GLORY GIRLS: Sindhu goes for gold, Sakshi breaks medal jinx

TELLING TUMBLE: The picture above illustrates Sindhu’s complete domination as
Japan’s Nozomi  Okuhara is stretched prone on the court and watches in helplessness.
(Reuters picture)  

TT: P.V. Sindhu stunned Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in straight sets and stormed into the final of the badminton singles at the Rio Olympics. Sindhu is now assured of a gold or a silver, a feat no other Indian player has ever achieved in her sport. 

How good was Sindhu? Over to Kapil Dev, who tweeted: “Those smashes could move mountains. WHAT AGGRESSION!!!”

At 179cm, Sindhu towered over Okuhara, 155cm, cashed in on her reach, produced superb smashes and brought Okuhara to her knees at least 10 times in the match.

The smash-hits from the game:

Game 1

Sindhu serves on 9-6. After a 22-shot rally, she hits a fierce down-the-line smash. Okuhara falls on her knees but fails to reach the shuttle. Sindhu opens up a four-point lead. During a break, coach P. Gopichand tells her: “She doesn’t have any weapons. Stay focused.”

Sindhu leads 11-8. Okuhara serves. A 28-stroke rally ends when Sindhu plays a brilliant drop shot at the net. Okuhara is unable to reach the net in time and falls during a desperate return attempt. Sindhu lets out a cry. She leads 12-8.

WHY IT’S PUSARLA VS: Sindhu’s T-shirt says PUSARLA VS. Pusarla is a Telugu name denoting the family or clan name. V stands for Venkata. Many use it to pay obeisance to Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati. Sometimes the initials can also be derived from the name of the grandparents. S stands for Sindhu.

At one point, a TV commentator exclaims: “How on earth did she manage it!”  

Game 2

Sindhu serves, trailing 4-5. A long rally follows. Sindhu seals it with a scintillating smash down the middle. Okuhara has no answer. It’s 5-5.

Okuhara leads 8-7. The Japanese is aggressive, forcing Sindhu to defend. In the blink of an eye, Sindhu soars in the air to produce a smash. 8-8.

Sindhu serves on a 13-10 lead. Sindhu keeps Okuhara off-balance. At the crunch, Sindhu seals the point with a backhand smash, one of the toughest shots.

Match point. Sindhu serves. After nine strokes, Sindhu smashes one. Okuhara manages a feeble return. Sindhu seals it with another fierce smash that lands even before Okuhara regains balance. Sindhu takes the game 21-10, and match, winning 11 consecutive points.

• Match score: 21-19, 21-10

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CLASH FOR GOLD

Badminton: Women’s singles final

Carolina Marin (ESP) versus PV Sindhu (IND)

LIVE Friday at 6.55pm on STAR Sports

HEAD TO HEAD

• Marin and Sindhu have faced off 7 times

• Marin won 4 times

• Sindhu won thrice

Marin

World No. 1, Age: 23, Height: 5-ft-8-in, Weight: 65kg, Hand: Left, Coach: Fernando Rivas, Strength: Deft flicks from the net

Bong onnection: Played for Banga Beats in the inaugural IBL (Indian Badminton League) in 2009

Sindhu

World No. 10, Age: 21, Height: 5-ft-10 1/2-in, Weight: 65kg, Hand: Right, Coach: Pullela Gopichand, Strengths: Uses her height to cover the court and has a brutal smash.