Indian ace shuttler PV Sindhu has rated her win over the world number two Chinese international Wang Yihan as one of the best moments in her playing career. The 21-year old Indian shuttler defeated the 2012 London Olympics Silver medalist in straight sets 22-20, 21-19 in the quarter finals of the ongoing 2016 Rio Olympics to set up a mouth-watering clash against the world number 3 Japenese international Nozomi Okuhara at the semi-final stage, just one win away from securing India’s first medal at the 2016 Mega Games.
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She delightedly said, “This is also Rio Olympics, it’s a very different feeling. It’s one of the best moments. I hope there will be many more to come.” With this win, she became the second Indian women shuttler after Sania Nehwal (2012 London Olympics) to ever reach the last four of any Olympics till date.
“I was really patient and I was ready for everything, which I feel was the turning point”
Earlier, Sindhu defeated the eight seeded Chinese Taipei international Tai Tzu-Ying in straight sets 21-13, 21-15 in the pre-quarter-finals. When quizzed about the amount of pressure coming into the match, she said, “I was just thinking about the game. If you play really well you will automatically win the game, and a medal. I’ m just focused on my match and the next match, the semis (against Okuhara). I hope I can give my best.”
The two-time World Championship Bronze medallist Sindhu was trailing the world number two Wang 10-12 but kept her composure to take the tight first set 22-20, before taking the second set 21-19 and the match 2-0. She added, “There were big rallies, she was attacking well. My smashes were going out initially. Even she did not leave and she was lifting everything. I was really patient and I was ready for everything, which I feel was the turning point.”
“I never thought I would lose this, because any moment anything can change. It was not so easy to get points, both of us fought for every point. It was very close. In the first game it was 20-all and I felt even though I was leading I never thought the game was over. She came really close, even she played brilliantly.”
The world number 10 Sindhu has a 1-3 win-loss record against the Japenese international Nozomi Okuhara, but has not registered a win over her since her victory in the Asian Youth U-19 Championships. Sindhu has been on the losing side in the most recent 3 encounters against the Japenese international with the most recent loss coming at the Asian Team Championship, Hyderabad in February this year.
