Competition: Dubai World Superseries Finals
Date: Friday, 16 December 2016
Time: Around 6-6.30 PM IST
Venue: Hamdan Sports Complex, Dubai
TV Coverage: Star Sports 4, Star Sports HD4 (In India)
Live Streaming: Star Sports Hotstar
Preview
(5/8) Carolina Marin (WR #2) vs (5/8) PV Sindhu (WR #10)
Head-to-head record: Marin leads 5-2
After two days of group action at the Dubai World Superseries Finals, we have finally arrived at the day of the much-awaited clash between PV Sindhu and Carolina Marin. Their last showdown at the Rio Olympics final generated a lot of interest among Indian fans and sent the TRPs soaring. Needless to say, this time too, excitement is at its peak for this contest especially because the Indian has a pretty good chance of qualifying with a win or even by grabbing a solitary game.
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That is because the Olympic champion and World No. 2 Marin has not been at her best throughout this tournament and has lost both her group matches against Sun Yu and Akane Yamaguchi. While the Chinese dashed her hopes in straight games, Marin did win a game against the Japanese yet ended up on the losing side.
Also Read: The list of things Gopichand banned for PV Sindhu is the epitome of discipline
That has opened up an opportunity for the World Superseries Finals debutante PV Sindhu to grab a semi-final berth.
The World No. 10 won her first match against Yamaguchi in three games but could not replicate that same effort against Sun Yu to whom she went down in straight games. With a win against Marin, the Pullela Gopichand protégé can advance to the last-four beyond any doubt.
And that does not look entirely impossible with the Indian coming to Dubai riding high on her China Open win. If she can find the same attacking game that she produced during the Asian swing, she can definitely avenge her Olympic defeat. The Spaniard has been struggling since her Rio success and failed to reach any final.
She was also dethroned from the top spot by the sizzling Tai Tzu Ying. Suffice to say, the southpaw has been lacking in confidence for the past few weeks and it can make things easier for Sindhu.
It must also be mentioned that a lot will depend on the other Group B match of the day between Sun Yu and Akane Yamaguchi. The Chinese looks closer to the semi-finals having won both her matches and the battle for the second spot, at the moment, looks to be between Yamaguchi and Sindhu.
Also Read: PV Sindhu receives BWF Most Improved Player award
The outcome of this match can give some idea as to what the Indian needs to do secure a semi-final berth.
In the case of Yamaguchi upsetting the in-form Sun Yu, Sindhu needs a win. She and Yamaguchi will then be tied with two wins apiece and the head-to-head result between them in the group will then be considered. Having defeated the Japanese, Sindhu will surely progress in such a scenario.
If Sun wins her match and Marin beats Sindhu, then a three-way tie will happen among Yamaguchi, Sindhu and Marin. In such a situation, the number of games will come into play.
