PV Sindhu starts 2016 with a bang, wins Malaysia Masters

Debarshee Mitra
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Indian shuttler PV Sindhu defeated Kirsty Gilmour 21-15, 21-9 to lift the Women’s Singles title at the $120,000 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold at Penang, Malaysia on Sunday to make a winning start to the 2016 season.

Sindhu, who won the Malaysia Masters in 2013, looked in her prime form in the tournament after defeating the top-seed, Sung Ji Hyun, from South Korea in the semi-final yesterday. The final against World No. 20 Kirsty Gilmour also turned out to be in favour of the World No. 12 Indian, with Sindhu earning a comfortable victory in 33 minutes to lift the trophy.

Gilmour, who had beaten Sindhu in the second round of the 2013 French Open – their only meeting – looked nervous in the final playing against the Indian. Gilmour’s nervousness got the better of her in the opening exchanges, as her attempted first time smashes erred away from the court. With Sindhu dominating the game with her smashes and intricate net play, Gilmour was forced into a defensive game to stay in the match.

The most exciting point of the match came with Sindhu leading 13-8, and was in a course for another point, with a delicate drop. Gilmour dived full length to save the point, and went back in the court to win it with a magnificent drop to leave the Indian frustrated. However, it proved to be a consolation for the young scot as Sindhu race ahead, and took the first game 21-15 after throttling the Scot’s comeback.

The second game was another walk in the park for the third-seeded Indian, as the scot struggled with the movement of her opponent. Sindhu, who started her career primarily as back-court player who used her height to go for smashes, has slowly become a more complete player over the years. That facet of her game was at display today, as she dominated Gilmour at the net, which was once her weakness. With Sindhu running away to the tile, Gilmour looked lost, and she surrendered her fight to let the Indian take the second game 21-9 and the title.

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