Sindhu clinches Syed Modi International, ends 2-year BWF tour title drought

Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu breezed past compatriot Malvika Bansod in straight sets to clinch the Syed Modi International tournament on Sunday. This was the two-time Olympic gold medalist’s first BWF tour title in two years, after having clinched gold in the World Championships in Glasgow in 2019. 

Top seed Sindhu needed just 35 minutes to beat her 20-year-old opponent 21-13, 21-16 and win the Super 300 title at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium in Lucknow. This was also Sindhu’s second Syed Modi International title, having previously won it in 2017. 

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Sindhu used her vast experience and skills to great effect as Bansod found it extremely difficult to adjust to her opponent’s game from the onset.

The Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist took off from the word go and raced to a 7-0 lead in no time. The ace shuttler used her height and reach to great effect to increase her lead to 11-1 at the break.

After the break, Bansod tried to up her game and collected a few points to close the gap but it was no match for a much superior Sindhu, who closed out the first game with consummate ease.

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“From the first game I just went for the win and it was important for me that every point mattered. Even though I was leading I didn’t take it easy, may be, couple of points I made unforced errors but I made sure I came back into the game and thought that I should be consistent,” Sindhu said after the match.

The second game, however, produced a better contest with Bansod trying her best to lift her game, and she did that too, but it was not enough to challenge Sindhu’s class.

Sindhu used her height to mix her smashes with pinpoint drop shots, which Bansod failed to counter as the Olympic medallist raced to a 11-4 lead at the break.

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Sindhu continued in the same vein even though Bansod tried her best to forge a comeback and in the process secured four points on the trot to reduce the deficit to 17-12.

Bansod managed to pick up four more points but lacked the temperament and class as Sindhu closed out the contest without any fuss.

“Overall, it’s been a good week, good matches, so I am happy with the win,” Sindhu said.