PV Sindhu beats Sung Ji Hyun to set up India Open final with Carolina Marin

PV Sindhu beat Sung Ji Hyun in the India Open semi-final to set up a final with Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin.

India’s PV Sindhu dug deep into her reserves as she outlasted Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun in three games on Saturday to set up a repeat of the Rio Olympics final clash against Spaniard Carolina Marin in the India Open World Super Series badminton.

Sindhu, the world No 5, weathered a fightback from Sung, the world No 4, before winning 21-14 18-21 21-14 to the cheers of a packed audience at the



Siri Fort auditorium.

If emotion was a key content of the Rio silver medallist’s victory over compatriot Saina Nehwal in the quarterfinals on Friday, she was pushed by her determined Korean rival that asked questions of her tactics, fitness and mental strength.

‘’It was a long match, I was prepared both mentally and physically. I knew there will be long rallies and Sung will not give points easily. With that mindset, I entered the court,’’ SIndhu said after coming through the energy-sapping contest.