Asian Games 2018: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal bring home first women’s singles medals in badminton

India’s PV Sindhu settled for the silver medal in women’s singles badminton after going down to top seeded Chinese Taipei player Tai Tzu Ying in the final. Tai Tzu was in top form as she dispatched the Indian 21-13, 21-16 in just 34 minutes.

Sindhu had already written her name in the annals of Indian sports history when she became the first Indian shuttler to reach the final on Monday.

Sindhu, who had lost several high profile finals, including the 2016 Rio Olympics and two World Championship finals, was looking for redemption but failed to put up any challenge in the summit clash. She had also lost the final of the Commonwealth Games earlier this year to compatriot Saina Nehwal.

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Tai Tzu was on the attack from the beginning as she didn’t allow Sindhu to settlle, using her speed and precision perfectly. She sped away to a 5-0 lead in the first game before the Indian managed to open her account. The gap in class was visible as Tai Tzu maintained a vice-like grip on the final throughout, winning the first game 21-13.

Sindhu came out firing in the second game but it wasn’t enough as the Chinese Taipei player kept collecting points at will. She eventually closed the second game 21-16 to win her maiden Asian Games gold medal. This is the first time that the women’s singles gold medal has been won by a player from Chinese Taipei.