Commonwealth Games 2022 badminton: India’s PV Sindhu wins her first CWG gold in women’s singles

Former world champion PV Sindhu added one more gold medal to her cabinet by winning the women’s singles title at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, UK, on Monday (8 August).

PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, beat the 2014 CWG champion Michelle Li of Canada 21-15, 21-13 to win her first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in women’s singles.

PV Sindhu lost to Saina Nehwal in the final at Gold Coast in 2018 to settle for silver. At Glasgow in 2014, PV Sindhu went on to win the bronze medal after losing to Michelle Li 22-20, 22-20 in the semi-finals.

Playing with a strapping on her left ankle at the National Exhibition Centre, PV Sindhu, seventh in the badminton world rankings, was stiffer in movements and looked to play shorter rallies against the world No. 13 Michelle Li.

PV Sindhu relied heavily on the mix of cross-court drop shots and smashes to go into the break leading 11-8. The Indian badminton player then built on it post interval to take the opening game.

While PV Sindhu remained focused and continued making pinpoint returns, the Canadian made numerous unforced errors and failed to squeeze longer rallies out of PV Sindhu.

However, a 57-stroke rally won by Michelle Li when PV Sindhu was leading 13-9, turned the momentum towards the Canadian shuttler for a brief phase.

Nevertheless, PV Sindhu regrouped quickly to snatch back the initiative and complete her set of medals at the Commonwealth Games in 48 minutes. It was also PV Sindhu’s third win over Michelle Li this year and ninth overall in the 11th meeting.

PV Sindhu will now prepare for the BWF World Championships 2022 to be held in Tokyo scheduled to start on August 21.