During the match, Li injured her knee and she may not be able to play the bronze medal match.
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The 23-year-old Spaniard took the first game 21-14 and the second 21-16 as Li was hobbled following a fall. When she fell behind, she fought back, her shots resulting in advances of at times thundering ferocity across the canvas of the badminton court. 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. Sindhu trailed by 10-12 and was later 20-20 but maintained her calm to win two points and take an intense first game. But in the end Sindhu won the first game by 21-19.
Even though she did make a few mistakes, Sindhu stuck to her game plan, and kept answering all the queries posed by the Japanese, before stepping up on the gas, and mowing her down. “But, Sindhu found a mentor at a young age, Gopichand, and parents – her father is an Arjuna awardee – who were willing to go to any extent to help her realise her dream”.
Later, Sindhu took a 15-12 lead that became 17-14 but Okuhara’s net game helped her nearly reduce the deficit. Sindhu made it 8-8 and then moved ahead to 9-8. A lapse in judgement by Okuhara near the line gave Sindhu an 11-10 lead at the break, but no one knew what was about to come next.
The 26-year-old Indian managed to bag a point in the second period as Maria failed to make the most of the 30-second advantage. As many as 10 points on the trot catapulted her to the final with a 21-10 win in the second game. Okuhura was stunned into submission, not realising what had hit her and leaving her supporters in a daze. The Indian made her rival run around her side of the court by sending in several forehand smashes.
“I want to congratulate you for guaranteeing India’s first silver medal at the (Rio) Olympics”. It’s the Olympic final, and she’s playing really well.
“Of course, (Marin) is a very tough opponent”. “Carolina Marin is a world champion, let us not underestimate her”, Sindhu’s father told India Today.
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“She played brilliantly against Li Xuerui today”. This was wristy magic, delivered with high arms while her long legs remained symmetrical in motion. “Definitely I feel that I’ve a chance”, Sindhu said. Nozomi Okuhara of Japan was standing in her way, and with the World No. 6 leading the head-to-head record 3-1 going into the match, it was clear that Sindhu needed another big performance to get past the Japanese shuttler.
