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PV Sindhu is out of semifinals...But she can still create history amid missing one! Here's how

By alagu, 31 July, 2021
PV Sindhu, Tokyo Olympics 2021, Olympics, India

In a major setback for the Indian contingent in the Tokyo Olympics, much-expected PV Sindhu has lost the semifinals of the women's singles badminton competition after she was defeated by Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu-Ying. Bracing up the defeat for the first time in the ongoing Olympic tournament, Sindhu will now fight to at least settle for the Bronze medal. India has currently won a Silver medal and boxer Lovlina Borgohain has assured a second medal for the country. 

Sindhu has brought cheers to India on Friday after defeating Japanese Akane Yamaguchi in straight games and with her victory, she had reserved her place in the semifinals and advanced for a medal in her second consecutive Olympic tournament. On Saturday, PV Sindhu took on the World Number One Tai Tzu Ying in straight games. In a significant match that lasted 40 minutes, Sindhu had conceded a defeat to Ying and ended her campaign for advancing to the finals. 

However, Sindhu is not completely out of the medal race as she will be facing He Bing Jiao of China in the Bronze medal match on Sunday, and if she wins, India will be assured with the third Olympic medal - all three from women. Sindhu had won the Silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics after she was defeated by Spain's Carolina Marin in the finals at the Brazilian city. In the 2020 games, Sindhu was successful in building a winning momentum towards the historical feat until the semifinals, and with a shocking defeat, the Indian badminton great is in the necessity of a must-win in the Bronze medal match on Sunday. 

While Sindhu was giving a solid start initially through her sublime form, her opponent had gained control of the match after defeating Sindhu in the first game and eventually in the semifinal battle. With the victory, Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying has reached her maiden Olympic final. Tai will be taking on China's Chen Yufei in the gold medal match where the former will hope to write a new history. 

If Sindhu wins the match on Sunday, she will be assuring a Bronze medal for India and she will also create history by becoming the second Indian athlete after wrestler Sushil Kumar to win two individual Olympic medals in successive Olympic games. Kumar has won the Bronze medal in wrestling in the 2008 Beijing games and the Silver medal in the 2012 London games. Sindhu has won Silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics and had she won the medal in Tokyo, she would carve a remarkable milestone. 

Though she missed writing history in becoming the only 3rd women's singles player to reach successive Olympic finals, 26-year-old Sindhu will decorate the medal podium by becoming the second Indian athlete to win two individual Olympic medals if she triumphs over the Chinese shuttler on Sunday. Will Sindhu write history amid missing one? Hold your breath till the final result. 

 

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