Sindhu’s third major silver of 2018 as Tai decimates Indian

Indian hope PV Sindhu surrenders meekly to Tai Tzu-Ying in the Asian Games women’s singles final

Jakarta: “You don’t win silver, you lose Gold”-this old adage perfectly fits Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu.

After a whirlwind season that saw the Indian lose out on two key major finals, Sindhu came up croppers as her hopes for an Asian Games badminton title went up in smoke on the court of Istora Senayan Indoor Stadium on Tuesday.

Playing against the World No 1 Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei, Sindhu lost in straight games 21-13, 21-16 in just 36 minutes. Her compatriot Saina Nehwal, who lost to Tai in the semifinals on Monday had warned that to beat the Taiwanese player one needed to be complete player, but Sindhu again lost her way.

Sindhu might have won what now is being called “a historic Silver” because she knows that she has lost what would have been an epic Gold.

What baffled the fans was the way Tai dismantled Sindhu. She made it look so easy that halfway through the first game it was clear that she will win the Gold.

This was Sindhu’s third major defeat in the finals this year so far, having earlier lost in the Commonwealth  Games and the World Championship.

Tai, who had handed 10th straight defeat to Saina, recorded her sixth successive win over Sindhu this afternoon.

Sindhu last beat Tai in the Rio Olympics quarterfinals, but after that Taiwanese girl has beaten the Indian six times in a row. In all, Tai has beaten the two Indians, Sindhu and Saina, 20 times and lost to them only on six occasions.

The final was totally one sided with Tai dictating the proceedings. She showed amazing flexibility on the court, which left Sindhu bewildered and stranded.

Sindhu could not make use of her height and reach as Tai moved like a robot on the court. The Indian tried every trick-she first attacked, then slowed down the game.
 She tried to play from baseline, tried to rush to the net, but nothing worked.

Tai had watched her compatriot Tien-chen Chou losing the men’s final to Indonesian Jonatan Christies. The  packed stadium demoralized  Chou, who was much higher ranked to his rival.

Tai, however, brought cheers back to her country’s camp by thrashing Sindhu in a one-sided contest. The Taiwanese started with 4-0 lead and then kept on increasing as Sindhu looked helpless on the court.

Sindhu tried to make a match in the second game, but Tai was too good  and never allowed the Indian any quarter. Sindhu never looked threatening as Tai returned serves with powerful strokes. Her coverage of the court left Sindhu with no more ploys. Like in first game, in this also the Indian trailed, barring for a very brief period when the score was 4-4.

Tai praised Sindhu for her “spirited display” saying though I have beaten her several times, but I still consider her very tough opponent.”

Coach Gopi Chand also echoed what Sindhu said adding that Sindhu and Saina will have to relook at their tactics against Tai.

The coach admitted the defeat in the final was very disappointing and her fans must have felt bad.

Asked why she was losing in the finals repeatedly, the coach replied: “you tend to ignore that she keeps on making it to the final.”

Crucial stats
It was in 2012 that Tai won her first Superseries title. Since then, she has added another 11. She is still to win the Olympic or World Championship. It is the first time that India has won two individual medals at the Asian Games with Saina Nehwal clinching a bronze earlier.