CWG 2022: PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen win gold in Birmingham
India’s ace shuttler PV Sindhu won the women’s singles badminton gold at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham on Monday (August 8).
Sindhu defeated Canada’s Michelle Li 21-15, 21-13 in the final.
Later in the day, 10th-ranked Sen came from behind to end Ng Tze Yongs giant-killing run in the competition.
The 20-year-old defeated the world number 42 from Malaysia 19-21, 21-9, 21-16.
Sen trailed for the majority of the first game but stayed close to the Malaysian who had accounted for world champion Yew Kean Loh and Kidambi Srikanth in his previous two matches.
Earlier, the world number seven Sindhu outplayed her 13th-ranked opponent in front of a packed crowd at the NEC arena.
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The 30-year-old had to produce something special for her first win against Sindhu in eight years but the Indian did not give her a window.
Sindhu was clinical in her short game and pounced on the slightest of attacking opportunities.
𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀!@Pvsindhu1 shines bright winning her maiden #cwg 🥇 in the Women’s singles 🏸 defeating Michelle Li of 🇨🇦 in straight sets @birminghamcg22 #EkIndiaTeamIndia #B2022 pic.twitter.com/qf56Y4VI8A
— Team India (@WeAreTeamIndia) August 8, 2022
Michelle had beaten the 2019 World Champion way back in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.
In the first game, Michelle was trying to get points by playing close to the net while Sindhu was the more attacking one. A smash on Li’s left made it 7-5 before the Canadian came with a drop shot on Sindhu’s right to make it 7-6.
Sindhu took three straight points after the interval to stretch her lead to 14-8. Michelle then netted a regulation forehand drop, leaving her smiling in frustration. Michelle did come up with two consecutive backhand winners for 14-17 but Sindhu bagged the first game with a swat shot on the Candian’s body.
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The Hyderabadi took a 4-2 lead in the second with a brilliant retrieve off her body and was cruising 11-6 at the interval. The crowd sensed a comeback from Michelle who won the longest rally of the match with a forehand winner. Sindhu however shut the door on her and completed a fine win with a crosscourt winner.
“I had been waiting for this gold for a long time and finally I have got it. I am super happy. Thanks to the crowd, they made me win today,” said Sindhu after the final.
𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖!
Presenting @birminghamcg22 🏸 Men’s Singles Champion & 🥇 winner @lakshya_sen #EkIndiaTeamIndia #B2022 pic.twitter.com/SIp2o2ft3W— Team India (@WeAreTeamIndia) August 8, 2022
(With inputs from agencies)
