20 August,2016 01:12 PM IST | | Sanjay Sharma
Spain’s Marin moved faster and succeeded brilliantly in keeping the attack away from the tall PV Sindhu, writes Sanjay Sharma
PV Sindhu
Two-time world champion Carolina Marin entered the court with just one aim in mind - attack. She used her natural attacking game, moved faster and succeeded brilliantly in keeping the attack away from the tall PV Sindhu, who also came out with the right intention.
She was looking physically stronger, but Marin proved to be a crafty, cunning opponent who played to a simple plan - not allowing the lanky player from Hyderabad play aggressively or get into rhythm. The trajectory of the lifted shuttle was such that Sindhu was not allowed to get under it for smashes.
PV Sindhu poses with her silver medal after the singles final at Riocentro in Rio yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
Marin was dominating the net most of the time, finishing off rallies either by deadly taps or the fast net hugging cross-courts, which elicited weak returns from her opponent. True Sindhu had a brilliant patch when she was 16-19 down in the first set. But suddenly after trailing right through she found her rhythm and forced errors from Marin, to not only equalise at 19-19, but won another two points to wrap it up.
Marin came out all guns blazing in the second to run up a 11-2 lead. Her speed of strokes, movement and deft executions on the net cross-courts proved too much for Sindhu who finally lost out 12-21. Marin deployed the same tactics in the decider. Sindhu was simply not allowed to use those pulsating and precise smashes. It did look at this stage that Sindhu will have the upper hand but the Spanish southpaw proved to be too fast in her movements to be pinned down.
