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PV Sindhu has been one of the most consistent Badminton players in the world over the 3 years. Rising through the ranks, Sindhu was mostly in the shadow of Saina Nehwal in the early part of her career. But ever since her giant-killing performance at the Rio Olympics a couple of years ago, she has been India's premier shuttler on the World stage.
In the last 3 years, PV Sindhu has reached the final of the Olympics as well as the World Championship and has also been in the Top 5 of the BWF World rankings.
As the Asian Games 2018 got underway last Saturday in Jakarta and Palembang, there is a strong chance that PV Sindhu may reach the final in Indonesia and win the Gold Medal for India. Even though there is strong competition in the tournament, Sindhu has the knack of performing strongly at major events.
The 23-year-old may enjoy an easier run until the Semi-Final where she may face Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi who can provide Sindhu with a stern challenge in order to reach the title clash.
Though the Hyderabadi girl has reached the Finals consistently she has always fallen short of the title win at the final hurdle. With the Badminton events currently underway at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Sindhu looking to win the Gold, we take a look at the Top 5 Finals that PV Sindhu has reached but unfortunately lost over the course of her eventful career.
3. BWF Superseries Finals 2017
Until the 2017 Superseries Finals in Dubai, Sindhu had won 2 bronze medals at the World Championships, a silver medal at the event, an Olympic Silver in Rio and many more super series titles to her credit, all this, at a young age of 22. The only major medal missing from her glorious trophy cabinet was the superseries final medal.
Seeded 4th at the year ending event, Sindhu was one of the prime contenders for the title. Winning all the 3 games in the group stages, she topped the standings. In the Semifinals, she defeated Cheng Yufei of China in straight games.
The Final vs Akane Yamaguchi was again a nail-biting contest.
After winning the 1st game 21-15, the World and Olympic Silver medallist lost her grip on the match as Yamaguchi came from behind to register a stunning victory over Sindhu.
2. World Championships 2017
The Rio Olympic Silver Medallist entered the event in Glasgow as one of the favourites for the title. Seeded 4th at the BWF World Championships, Sindhu had an easier draw until the Quarterfinals.
With a couple of major upsets in the other quarter of the draw, Sindhu had to play the Chinese Chen Yufei who had defeated top seed Akane Yamaguchi and 2013 World Champion Ratchanok Intanon on her way to the semi-finals. The Semi-Final turned out to be an easy outing for the Indian, who defeated Chen Yefui in Straight games and set up the final clash with Japanese opponent Nozomi Okuhara.
The Final match vs Okuhara was one of the most exciting badminton matches in recent times. Sindhu went down fighting to Okuhara 19-21, 22-20, 20-22 in the match that lasted for 1 hr and 50 minutes.
1. Rio Olympics 2016
In 2016, Sindhu entered the Olympics as a dark horse as she had a tougher draw on her way to the Final. All eyes and Indian hopes were rested on 2012 London Olympics Bronze Medallist Saina Nehwal. As Saina struggled with a career-threatening knee injury, she bowed of the Rio Olympics in the group stage itself.
This meant that Sindhu was the alone Indian remaining in the Women’s singles event. After clearing the Group stages and Round of 16 with ease she faced the mighty Wang Yihan from China in the quarterfinals. Against Yihan, Sindhu took her game to another level and defeated her Chinese counterpart.
In the last 4 clash, she met Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara who she defeated in straight games and set up Gold medal match with the top seed Carolina Marin.
Even though the then 21-year-old won the first game she squandered the advantage and went down to her Spanish counterpart in the 83-minute summit clash. She became the 1st Indian woman athlete to win an Individual Silver medal at the Olympics
