PV Sindhu creates history, becomes 1st Indian to win BFW world tour finals

PV Sindhu won the finals of the 2018 BWF World Tour Finals in China on Sunday. Sindhu, ranked sixth in the world, defeated World No 5, and defending champion, Nozomi Okuhara in straight sets 21-19, 21-17 to clinch that elusive gold medal at a major tournament.

In the finals, Sindhu faced her old nemesis, Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. The scoreline belies the seesaw nature of the match as the two shuttlers pushed each other to the limit. Sindhu started off in high spirited as she went up 14-6 in the first game. But Okuhara fought her way back and leveled the scores at 16-16. Then, again, Sindhu won some crucial points at the end to close out the first game 21-19.

In the second game also, both the players fought valiantly for each point. However, Sindhu was always slightly ahead of Okuhara. Okuhara committed a couple of errors that helped Sindhu get three match points. There was to be no comeback from Okuhara in the second game, and Sindhu converted her first match point to win the final and She won the second game 21-17. Then she maiden BWF World Tour Finals title.

Sindhu is also becoming the first Indian to win this tournament. The sight of PV Sindhu falling to her knees after the last point, with tears running down her face, will likely become an iconic moment in Indian sports. This win is a big relief to the badminton ace who had faltered in the finals of many tournaments including the Olympics and the Asian Game.

“I have no words, this is my first win in this year, every time I feel like coming to final and winning it but this will be the most memorable I would say because I think it was a really good game and I’m really very proud. The year has ended on a very beautiful note,” Sindhu said.