New Delhi: Top Indian shuttler PV Sindhu had to settle for silver after going down 18-21, 21-11, 20-22 to Beiwen Zhang in the finals of the Indian Open badminton Tournament here on Sunday.
Defending champion and the home-favourite to win the title, Sindhu stepped onto the court with a 3-1 lead over the American Zhang in four past meetings. All four of their earlier matches had gone into the third set and the contest at the Siri Forts Sports Complex was equally intense.
Zhang who was playing without a coach didn’t look like she really needed one. Not intimidated by the vociferous fans who vouched for Sindhu, the 11th ranked American fought point on points against the top seed.
The game started on an even note with both players exchanging early points but from 5-5 at one stage, Sindhu surged ahead to take a 11-9 lead at the break. She further extended it to 15-14 but a series of unforced errors meant Zhang made her way back and did not give an inch space to the fourth ranked Indian, sealing the opening set 18-21 in just over 20 minutes.
It was a similar battle in the second set as both once again engaged in long rallies, but Sindhu using all her experience went ahead from 2-2 to 8-2 at one stage. She further aggravated her opponent by making it 11-4 at the break.
But world no 11 Zhang who was aiming for her maiden title and one in straight sets, soon bounced back reducing the defecit to just five points at 15-10. Sindhu though halted her run with back-to-back body smashes to take six of the seven possible points and seal the game at 21-11 and take it to the decider.
Sindhu, who too was aiming for her first title of the year after being knocked out the Indonesia Open by compatriot Saina Nehwal took the opening two points before the American levelled at 3-3 and then moved ahead to a 9-4 lead, with six consecutive points. But Sindhu forayed back into the contest to equal the set 11-11 immediately after the break.
But exhaustion took a toll on both the shuttlers as the game cross the one hour mark. It lasted for nine more minutes and in between Zhang had equalised at 15-15, while Sindhu came back from being 15-17 behind, to make it 19-19. A smash gave her the game point but the American’s clever movement took the set into a tie-breaker.
From there Zhang smashed one to take the advantage and won the match 22-20 when Sindhu found the net, in one of her returns.
“I had nothing to lose and pressure was on Sindhu,” Zhang said later as quoted by the Times of India. I played a lot of smashes and an attacking game, which I generally don’t. This is my first major title and I am really happy. I guess it is the best moment of my career.”