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| Edited By: Pawas Kumar |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Dec 17, 2017, 07:33 PM IST
Epic is a word used too casually nowadays. But that is not the case when it comes to PV Sindhu and her recent title matches.
PV Sindhu has been part of some the most memorable title clashes of recent times. Her matches to Carolina Marin and Nozomi Okuhara in the Rio Olympics and World Badminton Championship finals respectively are still fresh in our collective memories.
On Sunday, she was involved in another 'epic' clash. Unfortunately she ended up on the losing side again. During one point in the match even the commentators wondered, "Will she always be the bridesmaid and never the bride?"
It was an all too familiar script.
Sindhu was up against an opponent who was ranked higher than her. Sindhu was off to a good start and won the first game. She was leading in the second when her opponent scripted a comeback to take the match to the decider. The final game was evenly matched till the final two points. There were some long (and I mean really long rallies), great smashes, brilliant drop shots and some silly errors.
In the end, it was the Japanese Akane Yamaguchi who held her nerve and took the title.
World No.3 Sindhu, the first Indian to reach the finals of the season-ending championship, suffered an agonising 21-15, 12-21, 19-21 defeat. The match was a marathon lasting over 94 minutes.
The lanky Indian shuttler appeared good to take the gold medal as she dominated the first game with her 'jump and smash' and won it 21-15.
The two were neck and neck till the middle half of the first game, but Sindhu was unstoppable after the first break and took points at will as the Japanese could not match her reach and agility.
Yamaguchi made a sensational comeback in the second game and made the Indian fight for every point. Sindhu trailed Yamaguchi 13-11. Widening the lead, the Japanese enjoyed 19-12 dominance over Sindhu.
Yamaguchi continued dishing out an aggressive performance and won the second game 21-15 against Sindhu to take the match into decider.
Determined Sindhu made a good start in the decider game and made her opponent run around the court with her long shots.
Sindhu enjoyed a 4-0 lead in the beginning but made some unforced errors to level it at 5-5.
There were long rallies in the third game as none of the two finalists were willing to give away crucial points.
The Pullela Gopichand protegee maintained the lead till the mid-break but her equally resilient opponent snatched the lead at 17-15 and made it tough for the Indian thereon.
Sindhu looked exhausted and stressed in the decider and lost it 19-21 to settle for silver.
Another Big Loss
Sindhu has won Super Series titles, of course, but when it comes to her biggest matches- The Olympic final, the World Championship and now the year-ending Super Series, she has ended up on the losing side.
The loss will hurt even more because Sindhu had earlier outclassed Yamaguchi in straight games in her last Group A match.
The loss also means that questions will be raised again about her ability to handle pressure in the big games.
Sunday's final was one of those games where you don't want anyone to end up on the losing side. Unfortunately it was the Indian who did. It does not take away from her superlative performance in the match and in this season.
Sindhu, who won the India and Korea Super Series this season, has much to look forward to next year. And we will also look forward to many more such epic clashes - with her winning, hopefully.
