Rio 2016: PV Sindhu stuns world No.2 Wang Yihan of China
India’s PV Sindhu revealed remarkable skills to upset world number two Wang Yihan of China in the badminton women’s singles quarter finals to enter the semi finals of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
With the triumph Sindhu became only the second Indian women’s player to reach the semifinal after Saina Nehwal at the 2012 London Games of Olympic Games. As Wang tried to get the upper hand the tenth seeded Indian displayed an excellent blend of defence and aggression. Sindhu returned most of smashes and Wang’s drops and was up to the task.
Wang made a late comeback to tie it 20-20 but Sindhu kept her cool to win it 22-20. Both players made use of height and their long reach and showed great skills. It was neck-to- neck in the first set. Wang looked an improved player, but the momentum changed at the conclusion of that set in Sindhu’s favour.
Sindhu raced to a 8 and taken that momentum in the second set -3 lead and at the break she led 11-8 before Wang showed great defence which frustrated Sindhu. The score was tied 13-13 when Sindhu opened up a five-point advantage. She was running away with the set and led her rival 18-13 with some amazing cross-court smashes. That has been the last point she scored.
Sindhu pointed the Chinese netted two of them and three shots at Wang’s body to give the match to Sindhu. Wang’s cross- semis berth, and court drop effort found Sindhu and the net failed to the ground, celebrating the win.
Sindhu is a win from assuring India a medal in the women’s singles group. If she wins her semi-final, she plays with the gold medal match, which assures a silver for India. If she loses, she’d have to play a bronze medal play off with the loser of other semi-final. She plays her semifinal against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan on Thursday.
