MetLife BWF World Superseries tour

(S.Ravi Seshu)

Every international shuttler’s dream is, to play World Superseries Finals, the ultimate event featuring the best eight singles players and doubles pairs of this year’s MetLife BWF World Superseries tour.

Till two weeks ago, the Indian star PV Sindhu was far way from dreaming for this Finals to be held in Dubai from December 14-18. But, the excellent podium finish in the last two qualifying events–China Open (winner) and the subsequent Hong Kong Open (runner-up)– got her berth to the year end event, for the first time in her life.

Qualification seemed a distant dream for the 21-year-old Sindhu, who was 16th in the rankings before these two tournaments. With her China Open victory, Sindhu earned 11000 points and stayed in the race for Superseries Finals. As the last Women’s Singles spot was tight with her senior Saina Nehwal, Japan’s Sayaka Sato and Minatsu Mitani, and Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk in the reckoning, the Rio Silver medallist was left with no other option than podium finishes. Her runner-up finish at Hong Kong Coliseum saw Sindhu past the other hopefuls. Mind you, it is indeed a memorable feat for the young Hyderabadi.

“It’s an honour to play in Dubai, it’s an event that I have always wanted to qualify for. My form is good and hopefully it will continue in Dubai. I’m happy that I did well the last two weeks,” Sindhu says. The Badminton Association of India’s following tweet reflects her fans’ wish:

“P. V. Sindhu’s sensational run of form earned her a place at the BWF World Super Series Finals. Here’s hoping she finishes 2016 on a high!”

On the other hand, the former world No.1 Nehwal, who is struggling hard to come back from knee surgery, couldn’t make it, mainly due to her quarter-final loss in Hong Kong. She ended ninth overall. An injury can cost a lot at this level. The defending Dubai World Superseries winner and Olympic bronze medallist, Nozomi Okuhara of Japan had also to skip Hong Kong owing to shoulder injury and she slipped from 7th to 11th. P V Sindhu pulled out of this years Macau Open Grand Prix that she had won three times in the past only to prepare herself for the Dubai Super Series Finals. It is a nice move aimed at finding more practising time.

Apart from the Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin (Spain), 2014 Superseries Finals winner Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei), Akane Yamaguchi (Japan); Sun Yu and He Bingjiao (Both China); Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) who blazed to three Superseries titles in three weeks this year; and Sung Ji Hyun (Korea) will vie for Women’s Singles supremacy in Dubai. Though it is not an easy task to conquer the Final’s title, Sindhu, with her sizzling form, can spring a surprise to finish the dream run in the year 2016 on a high!