Hong Kong Open: Coach Pullela Gopichand achieves rare feat

Sindhu has shown pleasing consistency in the course of the last fortnight, thus providing a firm riposte to those who have stressed about its lack as being the most glaring weakness in her game.

She lost the two rounds of the series with a score in first round 15-21 and second round 17-21 against Tai Tzu-Ying who was not an easy assignment to handle.

After winning the China Open, PV Sindhu became the highest ranked female Indian player. Her victory was made even sweeter by the fact that earlier in the year at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Tai had been defeated by Sindhu, who went on to claim a silver medal.

However, errors crept back into Sindhu’s play as Tai moved the pace of the game up a notch to go 8-10. Known as the most craftiest shuttlers in the circuit, the pocket-sized girl is renowned for her defective drops and drives.

“Happy to reach final, didn’t expect to”. Sindhu won that match in two straight sets. Verma, on the other hand, went down 14-21, 21-10, 11-21to local favourite Ng Ka Long Angus in a contest which lasted 50 minutes. But Ying clinched her second title in Hong Kong soon with a backhand slice. He took an early lead of 3-0 and by attacking the backhand side of Sameer increased the lead to 7-3 and then to 11-4. He came under the spotlight having stolen the match away from world No. 3 Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark with an astounding 21-19, 24-22 in the semi-final. Sindhu rallied in the second but was unable to establish a rhythm as Tai pulled away in the latter half of the game. At the 2014 Asian Games, she earned a third-place finish.

Commenting on Sindhu’s loss in the final, Gopichand said: “It was not that Sindhu collapsed”. This was Verma’s maiden appearance in a Super Series final. Cheung’s reflexes were fantastic as she made more than a couple successful returns after getting up from dives but Sindhu used her height and reach to full advantage to emerge victorious in the match that lasted 46 minutes. However, the world No.3 played a remarkable game, putting her forehand smashes to use.