Muristek
Lucknow, January 23
Two-time Olympics medallist PV Sindhu eased past young compatriot Malvika Bansod in straight games to win her second women's singles title at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament here today. Playing in a depleted field due to multiple Covid-19 cases, top seed Sindhu hardly broke a sweat to get past Bansod 21-13 21-16 in a lop-sided title contest. The final lasted just 35 minutes. Former world champion Sindhu had also won the title at the BWF World Tour Super 300 event in 2017.
It was expected to be a one-sided match between world No. 7 Sindhu and No. 84 Bansod. Sindhu used her vast experience and skills to great effect as Bansod found it extremely difficult to adjust to her opponent's game from the onset. "From the first game, I just went for the win and it was important for me that every point mattered," Sindhu said. "Even though I was leading I didn't take it easy; may be on a couple of points I made unforced errors but I made sure I came back into the game and thought that I should be consistent," she added.
"Overall, it's been a good week, good matches, so I am happy with the win," she added. "In the whole week each match was important because even though I was playing with Indians I could see good talented youngsters who are coming up and are really doing well," she added.
Sindhu described her win over Thailand's Supanida Katethong in the quarterfinals as "sweet revenge" after losing to the same opponent in the Indian Open semifinals last week. "My game is perfectly alright. Last week in the Indian Open it wasn't my day and I think it happens. But I played with her (Supanida) again here and it was sweet revenge that I won against her this time. So I am happy with my form," she said.
"Every medal means a lot to me because there are a lot of memories with these and I am sure and hope I will get many more medals looking forward," she added.
Seventh seeds Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto clinched the mixed doubles title with a straight-game win over compatriots T Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya Gurazada. Bhatnagar and Crasto inflicted a 21-16 21-12 on the unseeded duo in the summit clash that ended in 29 minutes.
The men's singles final between Arnaud Merkle and Lucas Claerbout was declared a 'No Match' after one of the finalists tested positive for Covid-19. —