SAG: Ruthvika stuns Sindhu for badminton gold

Emerging star Ruthvika Shivani Gadde shocked World No.12 P. V. Sindhu 21-11, 22-20 to win the badminton singles gold at the 12th South Asian Games.

Ruthvika Shivani Gadde defeated P. V. Sindhu to clinch the badminton singles gold.

Emerging star Ruthvika Shivani Gadde shocked World No.12 P. V. Sindhu 21-11, 22-20 to win the badminton singles gold at the 12th South Asian Games here on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old reigning Indian National champion was superior on most counts. At the net, from the backcourt, she was more or less accurate. There were times when Rithvika knew where Sindhu would play the next shot and was quick to finish the point. Especially, at the net, Ruthvika was top-notch. What she lacked in power, Ruthvika made it up with her wonderful deception and good court coverage.

The first game was a cakewalk for Ruthvika, as she took an unassailable 18-9 lead making the two-time World championship bronze medallist run hither and thither. It was a sight to see Sindhu despite her reach, being deceived, time and again by Ruthvika’s drops and alacrity at the net.

Sindhu attacked from the backcourt and retrieved well in the second game and it was evenly contested till the last rally.

Ruthvika had a match point at 20-19, but Sindhu managed to extract an error when a drop shot from her saw the former hit it long. Ruthvika clinched the title on her second match point when Sindhu misjudged a long toss from Ruthvika during a rally.