PV Sindhu won silver after losing 13-21, 16-21 to Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying in the final of the Asian Games on Tuesday. Sindhu's silver is the first in badminton singles for India in Asian Games history, while Saina Nehwal, who lost to Tai in the semifinals, won bronze.
"I played my best so I'm really happy. She (Tai) is a very deceptive player so you have to be all over the court and always alert. Today's game started out well but I think I gave her a huge lead and every time I was losing points she was pumping up. The tournament has been very good for me overall, to win a silver for the the country for the first time is definitely a great feeling. I need to work on my mistakes and come back stronger," Sindhu told ESPN after the match.
World No. 1 Tai did not allow Sindhu to fall into any sort of rhythm in the match, leaving the Indian to play catch-up for much of both games.
Tai had the better start, going up 5-0 in the opener in little time and although Sindhu did well to cut the lead down to 6-4, Tai once again extended her lead, going into the changeover ahead 11-7 after Sindhu netted a backhand. On resumption, Sindhu cut Tai's lead to 11-9, after which Tai found another gear, winning six of the next seven points to go up 17-10. Tai brought up eight game points at 20-12, converting the second to wrap up the first game in just 16 minutes.
In the second game, Sindhu stayed close to Tai at 7-5 before the Taiwanese again began her push. Tai went into the break leading 11-7, thanks to a combination of Sindhu's errors and the clean, error-free hitting of her own. Tai held on to that lead after play resumed, always staying in front and pulling ahead from 15-10. At 19-13, Sindhu fought back to 20-16 but Tai was up to the challenge, converting her second match point with a deft, well-disguised drop shot to complete the win.
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Sindhu came into this match with a lopsided 3-9 head-head-head against the world No 1.
Much like Sindhu, Tai has never won a World Championship or Olympic title. She also lost to the Indian at the Rio Olympics.