PV Sindhu lost the title 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 to Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. Nozomi became the first Japanese women’s singles champion while Sindhu is the second Indian after Saina to secure silver.
It was so near, yet so far for PV Sindhu. The lanky shuttler gave it her all, but still had to settle for silver in the World Championships. In the one-hour 50 minute slugfest, the longest match of the tournament so far, Sindhu lost the title 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 to Nozomi Okuhara of Japan on Sunday.
The 22-year-old shuttlers were involved in perhaps the best women’s singles final with all the strokes, dribbles or drives on display. Only six points across three sets separated Sindhu and Nozomi. Sindhu saved a championship point trailing 19-20, but luck deserted her as the Japanese girl scored the next two.
It was all over once Nozomi’s drop puzzled Sindhu at 21-20 and the Indian girl was crestfallen. Nozomi became the first Japanese women’s singles champion while Sindhu is the second Indian after Saina to secure silver. Unlike at the Olympics when she recovered fast to congratulate the eventual champion Carolina Marin, Sindhu took a lot of time and looked deeply hurt after the loss.
I am upset. In the third game, it was anybody’s game at 20-all. Everybody aims for gold and I was there very close but that last moment changed everything. She is not an easy player.
I am extremely delighted to become World Champion and I thank everyone for supporting me. It was a very tough match and I am very tired.
After mowing down Chen Yufei of China in straight sets in the semifinals on Saturday, Sindhu was the clear favourite in the final. She even played like one and led 11-5 at the break. But Nozomi came back strong, hitting the shuttle hard and returning everything. The Japanese girl surprised the Indian with her guile and retrieving ability. From 10-14, Nozomi came up with an eight-point burst and dominated thereafter.
