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India's hopes from PV Sindhu was high considering the aura the player has maintained over the recent years in the women's badminton singles. The 26-year-old has also lived up to the expectations so far at the Games. In the latest update from the competition, Sindhu has advanced to the semi-finals of women's badminton singles.
The Indian faced Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the quarterfinal on Friday. Putting a dominant performance since the beginning, Sindhu won the first set 21-13. Though Yamaguchi tried her level best to compete the Indian ace, her efforts were just not enough to avoid a defeat. In the second set, an enthusiastic Sindhu had to fight neck and neck with the Japanese player as the latter showed amazing improvement. Yamaguchi's splendid effort soon started reaping fruits for her. From 8-14 in the second set, the World number 5 bounced back to lead 16-15. Sindhu too showed nerves of steel to comeback form behind and make it 18 all before leading the game 19-18 and eventually sealing the win 22-20.
The win is definitely going to be one of the best victories for Sindhu who held her composure despite a resilient Japanese making the challenge tougher for her with every passing minute in the game.
Sindhu's sensational run in the competition continues
A day before, Sindhu had defeated Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in straight sets in the Round of 16 match of women's individual event to advance to the quarterfinals. She had won the game 21-15, 21-13. Now, she has inched Japan’s fourth seed Yamaguchi to continue her winning momentum.
Sindhu is being touted as one of the medal contenders for India. It is worth noting that defending Olympic women's badminton singles champion Carolina Marin has not participated at the Games to undergo surgery following a knee injury she picked up during a training session in the last week of May. In such a case, Sindhu, who had lost in the Rio Olympics final to the 28-year-old Spanish star, has a golden change to go big. Saying so, one cannot take anything away from the effort of Sindhu who is currently playing her best game and is capable of beating any opponent.