India Open 2017 Final| PV Sindhu defeats Carolina Marin to avenge Olympic loss

04/02/2017

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Carolina Marin was left to rue the small errors in her game as PV Sindhu reversed the result of the Olympic final to lift the India Open superseries title at the Siri Fort Complex in Delhi. Sindhu made good use of the home advantage with a straight sets 21-19, 21-16 victory in the final.

A repeat of the 2016 Olympic final at the India Open was always going to be a mouth-watering encounter and both PV. Sindhu and Carolina Marin did not disappoint the capacity home crowd.

The first couple of points in the first game were split before Sindhu stormed into a 6-1 lead. Both the players seemed to be making nervous errors, but Sindhu just about managed to keep her nose in front.

Sindhu was dominating the front court and taking the shuttle early to move Marin around the court and took a two-point lead into the mid-game interval, after a drop shot. Marin failed to control her shots after the break but stayed within touching distance of the Indian, and soon made it a one-point game at 12-13, before a body smash from Sindhu restored her two-point advantage. Sindhu kept moving Marin back and forth on the court, but the Spaniard still managed to level the game at 17 all.

An error from Sindhu meant that Marin went into the lead for the first time, but a lift just wide leveled thing once again at 18 all. A jamming smash from Marin meant that she was only two points away from taking the first game, but Sindhu leveled things at 19 all before a net kill from Marin went long, and Sindhu took her on the offer and came up with a body smash and took the first game, 21-19 after 22 intriguing minutes.

The second game started much like the first with Sindhu on the offense as she raced to a 4-0 lead with a mix of both power and control. Though Marin reduced the deficit to two points, she had no answer to Sindhu’s power and movement, as she continued to lead 6-3. Marin began pushing the Indian to the back of the court as she tried to dictate the rallies and she closed the gap to 6-7. Sindhu then displayed her defensive prowess as she won a point after being on the backfoot, to regain a two-point advantage. Sindhu soon went into the second mid game interval with a four-point advantage.

Marin came back strong after the break to take the first two points, but a well-directed smash from Sindhu and an error from Marin gave Sindhu a five-point cushion. A disguised drop shot from Marin reduced the deficit to 3, but Sindhu pounced once again with a smash to make it 17-13. A reviewed decision gave Marin one last lifeline, but a quick exchange at the net that went the Indian's way meant that Sindhu was only two points away from winning the title. And a wild swing from Marin gave Sindhu 5 opportunities to return the favor for last year’s Olympic final defeat and Sindhu sealed the crown when Marin hit a return into the net, 21-19, 21-16.

India Open 2017 Final| PV Sindhu defeats Carolina Marin to avenge Olympic loss

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