Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu’s return from injury ended on a disappointing note after she lost 12-21, 10-21, 15-21 to Rio Olympics champion Carolina Marin of Spain in 59 minutes in the Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament on Wednesday.
Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu’s return from injury ended on a disappointing note after she lost 12-21, 10-21, 15-21 to Rio Olympics champion Carolina Marin of Spain in 59 minutes in the Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament on Wednesday.
Sindhu came into the match with a 5-9 head-to-head record against Marin, who had a tough last few years, having suffered an ACL in both her knees.
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The Indian had a rusty start as she struggled with her finishing, allowing an aggressive Marin to grab an 11-3 lead at the interval. Marin then zoomed to eight game points with precise returns, converting them at the first opportunity.
In the second game, Sindhu returned the favour, moving to a massive seven-point lead at the break. The Indian followed up her strokes well, playing some excellent shots and looking more polished at the net as she grabbed 10 game points, with the Spaniard going to the net time and again.
Sindhu converted it when Marin faltered with her net play again.
In the decider, Marin found her touch as her cross-court returns, punch clears, and body smashes kept Sindhu at bay. She moved into the breather with a four-point advantage after Sindhu went wide.
On resumption, Sindhu slumped to 8-14 following a judgement error -- a long shot -- and Marin produced another body smash.
Sindhu failed to negotiate Marin’s pacey returns as she hit out, allowing the latter to reach 19-13.
Marin grabbed six match points after Sindhu played into the net, squandered one following a service error before leaving her opponent cramped for space with another body return to end the contest in her favour.
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