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‘Sindhu can Sindhu scales a peak no Indian ever has win all major Blows away arch­rival Okuhara in the summit clash to win her first title of the year; proves third­time lucky after losing in the 2017 and ’18 finals events’

BADMINTON WORLDS

Press Trust of India Basel P.V. Sindhu on Sunday script­ ed history as she became the first Indian to win badminton World Championships gold by beating arch­rival Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a lop­sid­ ed summit clash on Sunday. The Olympic silver­medal­ Prakash Padukone. list Indian won 21­7, 21­7 in * FILE PHOTO: SUDHAKARA JAIN the final that lasted just 38 Shreedutta Chidananda minutes. Bengaluru Never-say-die attitude Prakash Padukone believes It was third time lucky for P.V. Sindhu can go on to Sindhu who had lost to dominate women’s bad­ Okuhara and Carolina Marin minton after her victory in of Spain respectively in the the BWF World Champion­ 2017 and 2018 finals to bag a ships in Basel on Sunday. silver twice. She had won a “If she can remain inju­ bronze each in the 2013 and ry­free and choose the right 2014 editions. tournaments, she can defi­ Sindhu is now the joint nitely win all the major highest medal winner in wo­ tournaments and be World men’s singles in the World No.1 for a long time,” Padu­ Championships history with kone told The Hindu. former Olympic champion “She’s at her best right Zhang Ning of China who has now. It’s the first time an In­ won an identical one gold, dian has won the World two silver and two bronze Championships. I had a between 2001 and 2007. from the start to race to 8­1 points but the Indian quickly was up to the task. The In­ committed a couple of un­ which her rival sent out. and swiftly followed them at feeling she’d win today but I The fifth seeded Indian, lead. got the control back when dian targeted Okuhara’s fore­ forced errors before again In the second game too, the net to make life difficult didn’t expect that it would who enjoyed an 8­7 head­to­ The Indian targeted the Okuhara went wide and then hand corner to take two taking control of the match. Okuhara had no answer to for her opponent. be so easy.” head lead over the third­ deep corners and unleashed unleashed two good­looking more points. The Indian eventually Sindhu’s razor­sharp re­ With Sindhu’s gold and seeded Okuhara ahead of her big smashes to gather smashes to enter the break Sindhu used her height to grabbed as many as 13 game turns. Praneeth’s bronze, the In­ Good augury Sunday’s contest, was simply points at will.A precise net­ with a massive 11­2 lead. produce those attacking points when Okuhara went The Indian made the Japa­ dians continued the six­year Padukone felt Sindhu’s win unstoppable as she dished shot helped Okuhara to snap Okuhara tried to step up clears which Okuhara could long and she sealed the first nese run to the deep corners streak of winning at least one augured well for her chanc­ out an attacking game right Sindhu’s run of straight eight the pace but an alert Sindhu not negotiate. At 16­2, Sindhu game with a body blow with her acute­angle returns medal at the Worlds. es of winning gold at next year’s Olympics but he also cautioned against putting too much pressure on the 24­year­old. ‘It was a near-perfect game’ Manasi makes it a red­letter day “Now that she’s won a very important event, and An elated Sindhu says her next goal is the Olympic gold PARA BADMINTON her third appearance in the that too very convincingly, Worlds (she won a bronze in it should give her a lot of with a big smile. at my best in this World 2017). “It was a terrific expe­ confidence going into the EXCLUSIVE I was at my best in V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM <> “Well, I didn’t expect it to championship over a week rience to play at the same ve­ Olympics. I hope she will be this World HYDERABAD V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM championship and be such a one­sided final but and that was the key to my nue, share corridors with able to repeat this perfor­ I must say I played as well I success,” Sindhu said. India had another world the other badminton greats. mance there. But it’s not so­ HYDERABAD that was the key to my success could in the most important champion in Basel on Sun­ It makes you feel that you are mething we should take for India’s golden girl of the mo­ match of the championship,” Biggest gift day when the 30­year­old there with the elite,” she granted. We should not put ment P.V. Sindhu says she hu said. Sindhu said. “I was really “Yes, this is the biggest gift I Manasi Joshi, who also trains said. too pressure on her. It’s im­ played the best and most “Definitely, the Korean dominating from the start,” could give to my mother who at the Gopi Chand Academy What was Gopi’s advice? portant she takes little consistent badminton in re­ coach Kim Ji Jyun’s inputs she added. is celebrating her birthday here, clinched the women’s “To stay calm, play clear breaks in between, tries to cent times in the World and Gopi sir’s guidance were today and I dedicate this win singles SL3 gold defeating strokes and just be focused. peak at the right time,” he championships. major plus points in my cam­ Not a conscious ploy to my parents, grandpa­ World No. 1 and compatriot Not think about what hap­ said. In an exclusive chat with paign,” she said. “I must say “It was not a conscious ploy rents, coaches, all the sup­ Parul Parmar 21­12, 21­7. This pened or what is going to Sindhu had faltered in The Hindu after being Kim has her own effective to attack right from the first port staff at the Gopi Acade­ was her maiden title in the happen,” said Manasi. successive finals before crowned women’s singles style of getting the best out game but since every aspect my and fellow­players who BWF Para World badminton “It was great to be treated crossing the line on Sunday champion in Basel (Switzer­ of me,” she added. of my game was falling in have always been there with championship. Manasi Joshi. on par with the regular but Padukone stated that land), Sindhu said she was “I never felt any pressure place, I just ensured that the me,” she said. “It feels great to be called * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT players and I hope life will he had never doubted her fully prepared for the final before entering what was my momentum never really “Well, one goal is a World champion. Never ea­ change, after having sacrif­ ability. and was in a much better third final. I just wanted to slipped away. I am immense­ achieved and the next one is sy for any athlete and more ry tough and this is my first iced everything for this gol­ “Earlier, when people frame of mind. give my best shot and didn’t ly delighted with what is the there — Olympics. I will real­ so for someone like me who win against Parul, having den moment, in terms of asked if she would ever win, “Honestly, I was expect­ bother whether I would win most important win of my ly work hard and will pre­ had to face adversity on all lost in the Canadian Open re­ better recognition and sup­ I maintained that she defi­ ing a long battle, given Okuh­ or not when the final start­ career,” she said. pare to win that one also by fronts to script this golden cently. This time I was well port, especially like getting nitely would,” he said. “I ara’s reputation. But, I am ed,” she revealed. “The best “I can’t say whether there doing well in the Super Se­ moment in my career,” said prepared, having worked on world class equipment to knew it was just a matter of glad that I could peak at the part is there were very few was any specific turning ries in the run­up to the To­ Manasi in an exclusive chat my strokes, fitness and men­ chase my dream of winning time and a little experience. right time and never really unforced errors and it was a point in the championship kyo Games next year,” an with The Hindu from Basel. tal toughness,” said Manasi, a gold in Paralympics and Even now she’s very young. let the lead slip away,” Sind­ near­perfect game,” she said but I must repeat that I was elated Sindhu concluded. “The competition was ve­ who became a champion in the next Asian Games.” She has a bright future.” Rahane, Vihari and bowlers pile on the misery for WI Aguero on 400 in City stroll The hosts, pursuing a target of 419, reduced to 15 for five at tea with Bumrah and Ishant on fire Newcastle stuns an insipid Tottenham Hotspurs INDIA IN WI (1) and John Campbell (7) — batting. The moment Vihari EURO LEAGUES before castling Darren Bravo miscued a pull which landed PRESS TRUST OF INDIA (2) with a beauty. Ishant in the gloves of wicket­keep­ Agence France-Presse NORTH SOUND (ANTIGUA) joined the party, getting rid er Shai Hope, India declared Bournemouth of Shamarh Brooks (2) and its second innings. Ajinkya Rahane scored his Shimron Hetmyer (1). It was Rahane’s first Test Sergio Aguero reached 400 first Test century in two Earlier, Kohli’s scalp did hundred since his 132 against career goals with a clinical years before the Indian not help West Indies much as Sri Lanka in August 2017 double as the Manchester Ci­ speedsters blew away the Rahane and Vihari gradually while Vihari threw away a ty striker inspired the cham­ West Indies top­order on the took the game away from golden opportunity to get pion’s 3­1 win at Bourne­ fourth day of the first Test them with their confident his. mouth, while Tottenham here on Sunday. suffered a shock 1­0 defeat Rahane scored a patient SCOREBOARD against Newcastle on 102, but young batsman Ha­ Sunday. numa Vihari (93) missed out INDIA — 1ST INNINGS: 297 WEST INDIES BOWLING Raheem Sterling was also on his maiden Test century WEST INDIES —1ST INNINGS: Roach 20-8-29-1, Gabriel on the scoresheet — making as India declared its second 222 16-3-63-1, Chase 38-5-132-4, it six goals in four games this Star striker: Sergio Aguero is ice cool as he slots in City’s third Holder 18.3-4-45-1, Cummins innings at 343 for seven to INDIA — 2ND INNINGS term for the England winger past a maze of Bournemouth defenders. * REUTERS set West Indies a stiff 419­run K.L. Rahul b Chase 38 (85b, 7-1-20-0, Campbell 6-0-20-0, — as City’s second win of the 4x4 Brathwaite 7-0-24-0. target. ), Mayank Agarwal lbw b season lifted it to within two with fans doubting his cre­ tracht Frankfurt 1 (89 Pacien- Chase 16 (43b, 2x4), Chetesh- WEST INDIES — 2ND INNINGS cia); Hertha Berlin 0 lost to Rahane and Vihari raised points of Liverpool. dentials and former players war Pujara b Roach 25 (53b, Kraigg Brathwaite c Pant b Wolfsburg 3 (Weghorst 9-pen, 135 for the fifth wicket after It was a landmark day all claiming his squad was un­ 1x4), Virat Kohli c Campbell b Bumrah 1 (4b), John Campbell certain about his methods. Brekalo 82, Roussillon 90+1). India lost skipper Virat Kohli 15b, 1x4 round for City, with captain Chase 51 (113b, 2x4), Ajinkya b Bumrah 7 ( ), Shamarh Serie A: Udinese 1 (Rodrigo 72) (51) early on during the day. 5b David Silva involved in all But Joelinton’s first goal Rahane c Holder b Gabriel 102 Brooks lbw b Ishant 2 ( ), Dar- bt AC Milan 0. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant (242b, 5x4), G. Hanuma Vihari c ren Bravo b Bumrah 2 (10b), three of the goals on his for Newcastle in the 27th mi­ Sharma then ripped through Hope b Holder 93 (128b, 10x4, Shimron Hetmyer c Rahane b 400th appearance for the nute gave Bruce some Saturday: La Liga: Osasuna 0 the West Indies top­order to 1x6), Rishabh Pant c sub b Ishant 1 (12b), Roston Chase club. breathing space for a few drew with Eibar 0; Real Madrid 1 (Benzema 82) drew with Real leave it gasping at 15 for five Chase 7 (10b), Ravindra Jadeja (batting) 0; Extras (lb-1, nb-1): Meanwhile, Steve Bruce days at least. (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (b-6, 2; Total (for five wkts., in 7.3 The results: Premier League: Valladolid 1 (Guardiola 88); at tea. silenced his critics as New­ Celta Vigo 1 (Fernandez 15) bt Bumrah and Ishant ex­ lb-4): 10; Total (for seven wkts. overs at Tea): 15. castle won at Tottenham to Bournemouth 1 (H. Wilson decl., in 112.3 overs): 343. FALL OF WICKETS 45+3) lost to Manchester City 3 Valencia 0; Getafe 1 (Mata 12) posed the feeble West Indies’ secure its first points under FALL OF WICKETS 1-7 (Brathwaite, 1.4), 2-10 (Aguero 15, 64, Sterling 43); drew with Athletic Bilbao 1 batting line­up with their fi­ the polarising Magpies boss. 1-30 (Agarwal, 13.2), 2-73 (Campbell, 3.5), 3-10 (Brooks, Tottenham 0 lost to Newcastle (Raul Garcia 6). ery spells as none of the (Rahul, 29.2), 3-81 (Pujara, 4.1), 4-13 (Hetmyer, 6.6), 5-15 Since taking over from Ra­ 1 (Joelinton 27); Wolves 1 (Ji- Serie A: Fiorentina 3 (Pulgar 9- home batsmen could reach 30.5), 4-187 (Kohli, 73.4), 5- (Bravo, 7.3). fael Benitez in the close­sea­ menez 90+5-pen) drew with pen, Milenkovic 51, Boateng double digits. 322 (Rahane, 107.6), 6-336 INDIA BOWLING son, Bruce had found him­ Burnley 1 (Barnes 13). 65) lost to Napoli 4 (Mertens Bumrah removed the (Pant, 111.4), 7-343 (Vihari, Ishant 4-1-8-2, Bumrah Full of confidence: Rahane was in his element yet again while self under pressure after Bundesliga: RB Leipzig 2 (Wer- 38, Insigne 43-pen, 67, Callejon openers — Kraigg Brathwaite 112.3). 3.3-1-6-3. putting India in control. * AFP losing his first two games, ner 10, Poulsen 80) bt Ein- 56).

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