New Delhi: The weekend crowd at the Siri Fort Sports Complex was a delighted lot on Saturday night. PV Sindhu, the lone Indian to survive in the Metlife Yonex Sunrise India Open, reached the women's singles final to set up a mouth-watering title clash with Carolina Marin of Spain.
The Sindhu-Marin rivalry in the circuit has reached legendary proportions in the recent past, especially after the Spaniard defeated Sindhu in the Rio Olympic final last year. Nine times the two have met in recognised meets and Marin leads 5-4 in the head-to-head battle.
Given the way Sindhu played on Saturday, her fans could expect the Indian to clinch the prestigious Indian Open title for the first time. Supremely confident and composed at crucial moments, the Hyderabad girl played vintage badminton in the third and decisive game to outwit her Korean rival Sung Ji Hyun 21-18, 14-21, 21-14 in a battle that lasted 76 minutes.
Given the fact that the Korean stands one spot ahead of fifth placed Sindhu in the world ranking, it was indeed a creditable win. Third placed Marin, too, toppled her better ranked rival as she defeated world No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 21-16, 21-14 in the other semi-final.
Sindhu did not accept the suggestion that the final could turn out to be a grudge match. "I hope it is not a repeat of the Olympics final... it is just another match. I will give my best.
"There would be a huge support for me... like there was today. It will be a good match and I am confident of a victory," said Sindhu.
"This title would mean to lot to me....after all it is played on my home ground," she said.
Marin said she was eagerly looking forward to play the final against Sindhu.
"For everyone, it will be a re-match of the Olympics final, but for us it will be new chapter in our rivalry. She will have the home support... I know it is going to be an interesting contest," said the Spanish star.
In the Rio Olympics final on August 19, Sindhu lost to Marin. But four months later, she defeated the Spaniard in straight games at the Dubai Open. Ultimately, Sindhu's campaign in the Dubai Open was brought to an end by Sung Ji Hyun.
The past results, however, didn't matter anymore, warned Sindhu.
"It will be a new game... new conditions. Marin might know my game and I might know hers and we both might go into it with a feeling that we had won against each other. But it has to be fresh strategy, fresh game. Whoever plays better tomorrow will finally prevail," she said.
Sindhu promised the final would be a keenly fought battle. "Off the court, we are good friends but on the court, you will see our aggression," she said.
