Lucknow: Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu defeated young compatriot Malvika Bansod in straight games to win her second women’s singles title at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament here on Sunday.
Playing in an empty field due to multiple COVID-19 cases, topseed Sindhu barely broke a sweat to get past Bansod 21-13 21-16 in a lopsided title match.
The final lasted only 35 minutes.
It was former world champion Sindhu’s second Syed Modi title after annexing the BWF World Tour Super 300 event in 2017.
Before that, seventh-seeded Indians Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto won the mixed doubles title with a straight win over compatriots T Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya Gurazada.
Bhatnagar and Crasto put a 21-16 21-12 on the unseeded Indian duo in the top clash that ended in 29 minutes.
Earlier the final men’s singles between Arnaud Merkle and Lucas Claerbout was declared a ‘No Match’ after one of the finalists tested positive for COVID-19.
The expectation was that it would be a one-sided women’s singles match between the world’s number seven Sindhu and the young Bansod, the 84th in the world ranking, and it turned out to be the case.
Sindhu used her vast experience and skills to great effect as Bansod found it extremely difficult to adapt to her opponent’s game from the start.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist took off from the start and raced to a 7-0 lead in no time. The ace shuttle used her length and reach with great success to extend her lead at half time to 11-1.
After the break, Bansod tried to improve her game and collect a few points to close the gap, but it was no match for a much better Sindhu, who finished the first game with great ease.
However, the second game delivered a better match, with Bansod trying her best to improve her game, and she did, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Sindhu’s class.
Sindhu used her height to mix her smashes with razor sharp drop shots, which Bansod couldn’t disprove as the Olympic medalist raced to an 11-4 lead at halftime.
Sindhu continued on the same footing, although Bansod tried her best to make a comeback, gaining four points on the trot to narrow the deficit to 17-12.
Bansod was able to take four more points, but lacked the temperament and class when Sindhu finished the game without fuss.
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