May 22nd 2024.
After taking a short break, two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu made a strong comeback at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 badminton tournament on Wednesday. The World No. 15, who decided to skip the Uber Cup and Thailand Open, showed no signs of rust as she defeated Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour in straight games to progress to the second round.
The match lasted 46 minutes and Sindhu was in control throughout, displaying her trademark power and precision. Gilmour, who is ranked 22nd in the world, put up a tough fight but was no match for the fifth-seeded Indian. With this win, Sindhu sets up a clash with Korea's Sim Yu Jin in the next round.
In the mixed doubles category, the husband-wife duo of B Sumeeth Reddy and N Sikki Reddy also advanced to the second round after a hard-fought victory over Hong Kong qualifiers Lui Chun Wai and Fu Chi Yan. The Indian pair, ranked 53rd in the world, displayed great teamwork and determination to outlast their opponents in a thrilling encounter that lasted 47 minutes. They will now face the top-seeded Malaysian pair of Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei in the next round.
Meanwhile, for Sindhu, it was her third win over Gilmour, who is a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist. The 28-year-old Indian started the match on a high, taking an early 7-1 lead. However, Gilmour fought back and evened the score at 14-14 and 15-15. But Sindhu did not let her opponent gain the upper hand and emerged victorious by winning six of the next eight points to take the first game.
In the second game, Sindhu was even more dominant as she raced to an early 3-0 lead and never looked back. She was leading 11-6 at the break and continued to extend her lead, eventually earning eight match points. Gilmour did put up a brave fight and saved four match points, but in the end, Sindhu's superior skills and composure sealed the match.
Sindhu, a former world champion, has had a tough year so far, facing a series of narrow losses since returning from a knee injury. Therefore, this win at the Malaysia Masters is crucial for her as she aims to boost her confidence ahead of the Paris Olympics. With her sights set on winning another title, Sindhu will undoubtedly give her best performance in the upcoming rounds.
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