P.V. Sindhu is one happy camper. And why not She did after all begin her year with a bang, winning the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold in Penang on Sunday.
P.V. Sindhu is one happy camper. And why not She did after all begin her year with a bang, winning the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold in Penang on Sunday. The Hyderabad shuttler decimated Scotland’s Kirsty Gilmour 21-15, 21-9 in just 32 minutes to fire the first salvo of 2016.
Euphoric after the win, Sindhu is now training her guns on the next big tournament — the Syed Modi International badminton championships, to be played in Lucknow from Tuesday.
“Yes.” That was the 20-year-old’s prompt reply when this newspaper asked her on Sunday if she could be considered a favourite to win the Syed Modi tournament.
Sunday’s win was made even more satisfying as the last time Sindhu duelled with Gilmour, back at the French Open in 2013, she had lost. “So this victory was a bit of a revenge,” Sindhu said.
The manner in which she played, especially on the big stage of a final, augurs well for the lanky lass. “I didn’t take it easy even though I was leading for most parts of the match. I was only intent on winning, and doing it as comprehensively as possible,” she said, adding, “This victory will boost my confidence going into the Syed Modi tournament. I have started the year on a high note and I have every intention of making sure my performance stays at this level.”
The fact that Saina Nehwal, Sindhu’s on-court nemesis, isn’t in the best of form certainly wouldn’t hurt. “I haven’t thought about it, to be honest,” Sindhu said on Saina’s recent struggles with health and fitness. “Right now, my only focus is on the Syed Modi event.”
“If I do well, I will likely run into (Thailand’s seventh seed) Busanan Ongbumrung, whom I had defeated in 2014. So she will be gunning for revenge and I will have to watch out for her.”
