PV Sindhu has marched into the women's singles final of the 2022 Commonwealth Games following a decisive win over Yeo Jia Min. The world No. 7 showcased her class against the world No. 19, winning 21-19, 21-17. With this result, the double Olympic medalist guarantees herself a third straight CWG medal and looks to improve upon her 2018 silver finish.
Having lost the 2018 Gold Coast final to fellow Indian Saina Nehwal, Sindhu is now aiming for the top prize. Her opponent in today's final is world No. 13 Michelle Li from Canada. Sindhu's confidence is likely high, as she has defeated Li in straight sets in both of their encounters this year, making her a strong favorite for the singles gold.
Utilizing her technical edge and smart court play, Sindhu outmaneuvered Jia Min in a match that lasted 49 minutes. Despite playing with a strapped left Achilles that seemed to limit her movement, Sindhu showed great resilience. After falling behind 5-9, she shifted into an aggressive gear, scoring six quick points to lead 11-9 heading into the first interval.
Sindhu stayed in control by consistently delivering the right shots at critical moments. While Jia Min struggled to apply pressure, Sindhu surged to a 19-12 lead thanks to a precise net shot. The 23-year-old Singaporean attempted a comeback, using cross-court slices to narrow the gap to 16-19, but a strong forehand return gave Sindhu three match points, and she closed out the first game on her third try.
The second game started strongly for Jia Min, who looked revitalized after the switch. However, Sindhu's steadiness soon took over, as she went on a five-point run to seize the lead. The match evolved into a thrilling back-and-forth battle with several high-intensity rallies, but Sindhu remained disciplined with her strategy. She eventually sealed her place in the final with a perfectly executed body smash.
In other news, Lakshya Sen has advanced to the Men's singles final after defeating Singapore's Jia Heng with a score of 21-10, 18-21, 21-16. Sen makes history as only the fifth Indian man to reach the CWG finals since the tournament began.