PV Sindhu bites silver bullet at Finals

Bali, December 5

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu, the reigning world champion and two-time Olympics medallist, went down meekly against South Korean teen sensation An Seyoung in the final of the BWF World Tour Finals here today. Sindhu could neither match the pace nor breach the defence of the world No. 6 Seyoung, losing 16-21 12-21 in a lopsided 40-minute clash. It was Sindhu’s third successive loss to the South Korean in as many meetings, and she has failed to take a single game off Seyoung so far.

With this victory, Seyoung became the first South Korean woman to win the season-ending title. It was also her third straight title in Bali, following wins at the Indonesia Masters and Indonesia Open in the last two weeks.

Making her third final appearance in the year-end tournament, world No. 7 Sindhu looked a pale shadow of the player who had claimed the title in 2018, when she became the first Indian to achieve the feat.

‘Lot to learn’

“It was a good game. An Seyoung is a good player so I don’t think it was going to be easy. I was prepared for a good match,” Sindhu said after the final. “From the beginning I should not have given her lead because in the end I came back covering few points. It is a bit sad but lot to learn. It has been a good three weeks in Bali. So lot of positives to take from here and it’s time to go back, recover and get prepared for the World Championships.”

Up against the 19-year-old Seyoung, Sindhu once again looked short of ideas. The 26-year-old Indian couldn’t mount her attacking game or make use of the full court. Seyoung looked more polished at the net and displayed a good defence.

Sindhu will attempt to defend her World Championships title in Spain from December 12. — PTI