Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu breezed into the women’s singles final at the Syed Modi International Super 300 badminton tournament, defeating fellow Indian Unnati Hooda in straight games on Saturday. Sindhu, the top seed, delivered a commanding performance, outplaying the 17-year-old 21-12, 21-9 in just 36 minutes.
Hooda struggled throughout the match, committing several unforced errors, which allowed Sindhu to maintain control from start to finish. The young prodigy tried to keep pace with Sindhu but was unable to challenge the seasoned player effectively.
“I am happy with today’s performance,” Sindhu said after her dominant win. “From the beginning, I maintained the lead. I was just trying out a few strokes and overall, I was confident with the way I was playing.” Sindhu also praised Hooda for her effort, adding, “She is an upcoming player, and I wish her all the best.”
Sindhu, ranked 18th globally, will now look to secure her third Syed Modi International title, as she prepares for the final. She will face either Thailand’s Lalinrat Chaiwan or China’s Wu Luo Yu in the final.
Earlier, in mixed doubles, India’s Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila advanced to the final with a convincing straight-game victory. The fifth-seeded pair defeated China’s Zhi Hong Zhou and Jia Yi Yang 21-16, 21-15 in 42 minutes. They will meet either the Chinese duo of Pin Yi Liao and Ke Xin Huang or Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran in the final.
Sindhu’s semifinal match saw her take an early lead, moving to 5-3 with an excellent cross-court drop shot. While Hooda initially kept up with well-placed shots, errors began to creep in, especially with her lifts, allowing Sindhu to lead 11-8 at the interval. Sindhu capitalized on Hooda’s mistakes and extended her advantage to 15-8, comfortably closing out the first game.
In the second game, Sindhu continued her dominance, surging to an 8-3 lead before stretching it to 11-4. With aggressive play and clinical smashes, she moved to 18-7, and despite Hooda saving a match point, the errors continued, allowing Sindhu to seal the win on the second match point.
Reflecting on her progress, Sindhu shared, “I am definitely happy with the way I am going. Definitely, there is a scope for a lot of improvement… Every day is a new process, and I am doing that.”
Addressing her recent struggles, particularly her performance at the Paris Olympics, Sindhu admitted, “I know Paris was not a good one for me. I have tried my best, but it doesn’t matter. I need to get back stronger. So, I am working on myself.”
Sindhu has also been working with coaches Anup Sridhar and Korea’s Lee Hyun-il, adapting her fitness regimen to fit her evolving style and movements as she continues to focus on improving her game.