Numbers game: PV Sindhu has beaten Carolina Marin three times before

World No 1 Marin will start as favourite in the gold medal clash, but Sindhu has the credentials and the numbers to draw hope from.

PV Sindhu is taking on the World No. 1 in the final of the women’s badminton event in Rio. Carolina Marin is in hot form now and will start as favourite against the Indian.

PV Sindhu last defeated Carolina Marin at the Denmark Open Superseries in October last year. (PTI)

But Sindhu has tasted success against Marin, as recently as October last year. Marin leads the head-to-head 4-3.

Though we can take heart from the numbers, one should also note that Sindhu’s victories—apart from the Denmark Open Superseries last year—came when both the players were coming up the ranks from the junior circuit.

Marin developed into a world beater in 2013-14 and has taken the world by storm, breaking the Chinese domination and securing the top spot in the players’ ranking.

Sindhu, on the other hand, is the player in form in the tournament. She has been consistent, and has displayed an aggressive style of play that has sent opponents scampering all over the court just to keep the shuttle in play.