Super Sindhu conquers Marin to win maiden India Open title

In front of a partisan home crowd at the Siri Fort Sports Complex, the third seeded Indian dominated the match from the start to win the summit clash in 46 minutes. 

Sindhu had last defeated Marin in the BWF Super Series in Dubai last year. 

Earlier, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark clinched the men’s singles title beating Chinese Taipei’s Tien Chen Chou 21-13, 21-10. 

In a much-anticipated match of the evening, a replay of Rio Olympics title showdown, the star Indian shuttler came out with a purpose and looked determined for a revenge.

Marin was guilty of committing plenty of unforced errors with Sindhu’s deft drops and powerful cross-court smashes also keeping the Spaniard at bay. 

In both the games, it was Sindhu who took the initiative and set the tempo with early leads. In the opening game Sindhu raced to a 6-1 lead before Marin slowly and steadily clawed her way back into the affair. 

The intense fight continued thereafter and at one stage both the shuttlers were locked at 16-16 when Marin won a brilliant rally with a cross court drop shot. 

In the second game, Sindhu continued in the same vein to race to a 4-0 lead. Just like the opening game, Marin quietly clawed her way back into the game to reduce the margin to 6-7. 

But Sindhu was just way above her rival as he managed to hold on to her lead to go into the breather leading 11-9 and then did just enough to keep her dominance.