Even after Malaysia Open Super Series first round defeat there was a good news waiting for PV Sindhu. The Indian ace shuttler and Rio Olympic silver medalist has jumped three places to attain her career best ranking as World No. 2. The 21 year old is at the spot with 75759 points and if she could have won the Malaysia Open, things might have changed for even better ranking.
Sindhu is behind Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying who tops the list with 87911 points and ahead of Spain’s Carolina Marin who is on third place with 75664 points. The maiden title win at the India Open Super Series helped her to climbed three step from 5th rank to World No. 2. The other Indian in the top 10 of the women’s singles world rankings is of course Saina Nehwal. She has dropped one place and currently at the ninth position in the list.
In the latest released rankings, Ajay Jayaram is the sole survivor from India in men’s singles but he has slid to one spot from rank 19 to 20 after the defeat by China’s Qiao Bin 21-11, 21-8 in the first round of Malaysia Open. But this is not the end of Indian list; what took me with surprise is when I found tricolor in the mixed-doubles and men’s doubles rankings.
Although at very end but you will find names of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy flashing with 35,345 points at the no. 25 position in the men’s doubles’ ranking. Another name that I spotted in the mixed doubles’ list with our flag was Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Reddy N Sikki. They are currently world no. 14 with 44, 684 points. I am glad that I am part of the country for which they are playing.
Earlier, at the Malaysian Open, Sindhu was all set to become World No. 2 but the dream was sent crashing by China’s Chen Yufei. In the 68 minutes thriller, Sindhu received her first shocker of the year with a defeat of 18-21, 21-19, 21-17 by Yufei. In the first round of the Malaysia Open Super Series, the women’s singles dream for India is over as both shuttlers (Sindhu & Saina) are out in the first round.
Sindhu was riding high in her career with her first Indian Open Super Series win defeating Carolina Marin. But her happiness didn’t last long as she was shown doors by the fighter Chinese player. In the first set, both players were competing neck-to-neck with 12-12. Chen gained three points from here but Sindhu was fast enough to make it 18-15 lead. Sindhu managed to pull the first set with game point.
The second set was even more exciting and close where Sindhu had a better start but wasn’t able to capitalize at the end. The second set went to a 18-18 thriller when the Chinese made her move and took one point lead at 19-18. Sindhu again caught Chen at 19-19 but it was Chen who went ahead to take the second set with 21-19 and the game moved to third and decider set.
As against we hoped, for the third set to be nail-biting finish but it wasn’t. In the decider Sindhu wasn’t able to catch up with Chen as the Chinese was leading with 15-9. Sindhu did manage to pull out the match till 19-16 and three points behind Chen but she did too little too late. The Chinese had the momentum and won the match in style.