Sindhu’s lead was cut short due to a couple of unforced errors and at 15-13 in the fist game, it looked like it could go either way.
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Amitabh Bachchan took to Twitter to congratulate Sindhu.
What ensued next was a long rally with Okuhara hitting across as the Indian grabbed the opening game after the Japanese found the net.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Women’s badminton saw a major power shift Thursday as Carolina Marin of Spain beat Li Xuerui, the defending Olympic champion from China, to advance to the gold medal singles match against P.V. Sindhu of India.
About the semi-final win over Okohura, she said the match was not as easy as the scores indicated.
The Hyderabadi won nearly all long rallies and used her power-packed smashes and cross-court shots to good fumble the Japanese opponent, who had won her first BWF Super series title at the 2015 home Open.
Ramana also could not stop him gushing over Sindhu’s coach and former badminton player Pullela Gopichand, saying that it was because of his support that her daughter had reached so far.
When the match that was scheduled to begin at 7.30 pm got delayed, friends and family took turns to speak to the media.
Babita once again went for aggressive play but Maria turned it around to add two more to her score.
Sindhu celebrates her win. She followed it up with the prestigious All-England title in March this year.
So yes, Sindhu had these flawless starting blocks to explode into her race from, but of course, not everyone who is thus blessed makes it, as she has, to World No 10 in their sport. “I am very focussed”. She’s left-handed. I have my coach he will tell me the strategies. “I think she’s a great fighter with great work ethic”.
She, however, failed to maintain the lead as the Russian overpowered her with some incredible moves to take an unassailable 9-2 lead in the dying minutes.
“In the first game it was 19-all and anybody’s game and so those two points were really very important for me. I can not think Gopi enough”, Ramana said.
China also failed in both its chances for bronze medals on Thursday.
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With the Indian supporters in the stand constantly cheering her, Sindhu came out all cylinders blazing after the change of sides and reeled off 11 straight points with the help of her array of strokes, which included some brilliant backhand flicks and drops, to completely demolish the third seeded Japanese.
