Madrid Spain Masters badminton 2023: PV Sindhu loses to Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in final
The Indian badminton player, playing her first final of the year, lost to the Indonesian youngster in straight games.
Badminton
Indian badminton player PV Sindhu fell short of the Madrid Spain Masters 2023 women’s singles title following an 8-21, 8-21 loss to Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the final on Sunday.
For PV Sindhu, the world No. 11 in the badminton rankings and second seed at the tournament, it was her first final appearance of the year. Heading into the BWF Super 300 tournament in Madrid, PV Sindhu had failed to progress beyond the second stage in any of the BWF World Tour 2023 tournaments she participated in.
Up against world No. 12 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who stunned top seed and former Olympic champion Carolina Marin in the semi-finals, PV Sindhu made a slow start and committed a couple of unforced errors, allowing the 23-year-old the upper hand in the early exchanges.
The Indonesian shuttler, chasing her maiden BWF World Tour title, took full advantage of PV Sindhu’s lapses and showcased some fantastic badminton of her own to take the opening game with ease.
Once the two players returned to the court for the second game, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who has been in a rich vein of form lately, continued to dictate the tempo of the match and outclassed the Indian badminton player with her fantastic shot selection and clever shuttle placement.
Despite her best efforts, PV Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, could do little to stop Gregoria Mariska Tunjung’s rampage as the Indonesian sealed the final in just 28 minutes to win her maiden World Tour tournament.
It was Gregoria Mariska Tunjung’s first win over PV Sindhu in eight head-to-head meetings.