PV Sindhu celebrates a point defeating Wang Zhi Yi in the Singapore Open women’s singles final.
PV Sindhu won her maiden Super 500 championship on Sunday, defeating defending Asian champion Wang Zhi Yi of China 21-9, 11-21, 21-15 in the Singapore Open final. Given the drift, the first two games were lopsided, and the third was a battle of grit that she won thanks to her endurance.
For a player who is a previous world champion, has two Olympic medals, has won the BWF Global Tour finals, and has many medals from world and Asian championships, Commonwealth and Asian Games, a first Super 500 victory may seem strange.
She also won in a depleted field, with Tai Tzu Ying and Ratchanok Intanon withdrawing, meaning she didn’t face a single ranked player.
But none of this diminishes the reality that this is an important championship for Sindhu. Because of its timeliness, rather than its ranking points. It follows a difficult run on the Asian leg, which included back-to-back losses to her adversary Tai Tzu. This is her first 500-meter run since winning the world title in 2019. This is her first 500-point final since 2022. While the standings are currently locked, this is a major milestone for the global No. 7.
So far in 2022, Sindhu has aimed for more BWF Tour matches and trophies, as her coach, Park Tae Sang, stated at the start of the season. However, it has not been an easy assignment. She has been frequently making deep runs on the BWF Tour but had little to show for it.
Consider the following: Sindhu has only won two titles this year, both Super 300s. However, she has reached the semifinals seven times and the quarterfinals ten times in 13 competitions (excluding the Uber Cup), with an Asian Championship bronze medal in the mix. The record is now three finals played, three finals won. The momentum has shifted.
And this comes immediately before the Commonwealth Games (from an Indian standpoint) and the World Championships in 2022. To stress, timing is everything.
Sindhu herself stated that she was relieved, as if the celebration after the match point wasn’t evident enough. “I am relieved and overjoyed. I gave her constant points in the second game after winning the first, and it was difficult for me to catch up. Each point was crucial in the third game. She was getting closer after 11 (mid-game pause); it was 9-11 at one point even though I was winning 11-6. It was critical that I kept the lead “She stated this during the prize ceremony.
Sindhu is no stranger to three-game confrontations, and she required a decider in her second and third matches against lower-ranked opponents. Sindhu, on the other hand, is nothing if not persistent.
She has remained with her procedures despite week after week of terrible defeats over the previous six months, with the first-round and second-round exits at this year’s two Super 1000s being the most difficult. Despite falling short against top-10 players in the finals, she has persisted to her style and forced deciders. The virtue of perseverance has now been rewarded by the luck of the draw.
“There were tough-fought encounter in a handful of events, including losses in the quarterfinals and semi-finals. Of course, it was distressing, but it was critical that I finally realise this. I’ve now reached the point where I’ve won, so I’m hoping the same pace continues “Sindhu commented on her recent victory streak.
Another gruelling stretch of the season awaits, but not before the 27-year-old gets some time (read: a day) off to rest. It’s been a long journey for me, starting in Indonesia and ending in Singapore. It’s time to unwind for a while before getting back to training. I need to be physically and psychologically healthy in order to compete in the CWG, World Championships, and Japan Open. She thanked her travelling team – coach, trainer, & physio – for keeping her injury-free.
If she can maintain her winning attitude and mindset in Birmingham, a Commonwealth Games gold medal – another first – is firmly within her grasp in a much easier field.