Badminton World Championships: Day 6 preview

PV Sindhu

Women’s singles is unlikely to go without much of incidents. 13^th seed Yeon Ju Bae of Korea has displayed a trace of brilliance sending three strong opponents packing so far. In round three, she defeated Sayaka Takahashi who had defeated her compatriot eighth seed Mitani Minatsu in round two.

And her convincing win against a struggling Saina Nehwal of India who was third seeded and almost certain to make to semis only confirms that her win against Mitani Minatsu wasn’t out of luck. While I’ll hold my horses and predict an upset at the expense of Li Xuerui, I will certainly claim if that does happen, probably we will know who will take the championship final.

The other half of the women’s singles has been eventful. Whereas Ratchanok Intanon’s quarter has gone to script pushing Ratchanok Intanon into semis, there is something worth noting. Ratchanok Intanon was stretched to three full games against Carolina Marin of Spain who had won games against likes of Ji Hyun Sung of Korea. That is both a good news and bad news for her semi-final opponent P. V. Sindhu of India.

The other quarter of this half has been most eventful. The world has seen a teenager from Pulella Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad, India beating some of the biggest names in world women’s badminton. In two consecutive days, she sent two former world no. 1s home, her first victim being second seed Wang Yihan, who has been in terrific form this year, winning many major titles besides helping China take the Uber Cup back from the Koreans.

Her second victim was former world no. 1 Wang Shixian. What is more important about these wins is that these wins are against major Chinese players and on the Chinese shores in front of a partisan crowd. These wins are a true certificate of nerve and merit.

The match between P. V. Sindhu and Ratchanok Intanon, two teenagers almost the same age born within five months of each other, would be one of the most interesting matches of this tournament.

Ratchanok Intanon has achieved a lot more in her career so far. She has been without a doubt been the biggest talent in recent years (after Saina Nehwal), who is tipped to have the calibre to beat the top Chinese players.

This match will, in a way, determine whether P. V. Sindhu will firmly become a part of the gang being considered a threat to the Chinese players or her performance will just remain one bright chapter of her career.

We will come to know by 10 a.m. GMT August 10, 2013. Till then, fingers crossed.