Rio Olympics — Shuttler Sindhu reaches semi finals in Rio Olympics

Running like a sprinter and planning like a chess player, Indian badminton sensation, PV Sindhu, a big medal hope for Indian in Rio, marched ahead to podium by defeating the London Olympics Silver medallist and World No-2 Yihan Wang of China 22-20, 21-19 in quarterfinals played in the early hours of Wednesday.

Sindhu showed an extraordinary maturity in handling pressure after the scores in both the sets leveled at 19 all. It augurs well for the medal-starved India in the upcoming matches. The much-experienced Wang found a different 21-year-old Hyderabadi with improvised quick reflexes and accurate drop shots.

In the first set, Sindhu got into the lead at 15-14 and meticulously changed gears to catch Wang unawares thereafter. A series of big rallies and stunning drop shots saw her through the nail baiting first set. Any foolish error at this critical phase should have changed the fortunes of Sindhu but she maintained her composure and closed the deal with 22-20.

Having found new energy ensured by the first set victory, Sindhu started dominating the proceedings in the second set. It was relatively a smooth affair for Sindhu as the former World Champion committed many unforced errors. A five-point advantage (9-4) at quarterfinals level makes a huge difference for players but Wang narrowed it down by winning points on the trot. The top class Chinese player bridged the gap by scoring five points in a row and leveled the score at 18 much to dismay of the Indian coach Pullela Gopichand and the good number of Indian supports in the stadium.

Before they came from the shock of it, Wang won another point to lead 19-18 threatening Indian’s prospects. The champion material in Sindhu did the magic and wrapped up the match 21-19 with a couple of bodyline shots and well-calculated drops.

Sindhu in fact beat Wang twice in the last three years, once in the 2015 Denmark Open and in the 2013 World Championships. 

For the first time, India reached semi-final stage in the consecutive Olympics. India’s better ranked shuttler and former World No-1 Saina Nehwal won a bronze in London Olympics but she had to bow out in the group stages at Rio leaving the burden of carrying India’s hope on her junior Sindhu.