India Open final: PV Sindhu thrashes Carolina Marin to clinch title

New Delhi: PV Sindhu completed a comprehensive win over her Spanish rival Carolina Marin, to clinch the final of the India Open in straight games, in New Delhi, on Sunday.

Sindhu completed her fourth career victory over Marin, as she notched-up a 21-19, 21-16 win, in front of a home crowd.

The duo came out battling hard, as both the players went neck-and-neck in the first game. However, Sindhu managed to clinch the first game with a late surge.

The ace Indian shuttler raced into a big lead in the second game, and never looked back, as she grabbed the match point with a comfortable lead.

Marin 21-16 Sindhu:

And she has done it! Sindhu has won the India Open, avenging her 2016 Rio Olympics final loss to Marin.

Marin 13-16 Sindhu:

Sindhu opened up a huge 5-point gap with a big forehand smash. However, Marin came back with three points of her own, to restrict the Indian shuttler's lead.

Marin 7-11 Sindhu:

Despite Sindhu's early start, Marin has done well to keep herself in touching distance. However, the Spaniard has been haunted by her unforced errors today.

Marin 2-5 Sindhu:

And Sindhu comes up with another furious body-smash to race away into a three-point lead in the 2nd game.

Marin 19-21 Sindhu:

And Sindhu finishes it off with a brilliant forehand body-smash! Both the shuttlers have been at each other's throats in the first game, with Sindhu upping the ante at the end, to clinch the game.

Marin 16-16 Sindhu:

And Marin brilliantly levels it up for the first time in the match.

Marin 14-16 Sindhu:

Marin seems a bit off colour today. Despite winning good pints, she has been throwing away unforced errors, to let Sindhu off the hook.

Marin 9-11 Sindhu:

Marin is fighting hard to get back into the match, but Sindhu is getting the crucial points, to keep herself just ahead of her Spanish opponent.

Marin 5-7 Sindhu:

Marin came back with a couple of forehand smashes, to cut Sindhu's lead to two points.

Marin 1-4 Sindhu:

Sindhu surges into an early lead, after Marin took the first point.

Preview:

PV Sindhu is all set to avenge her 2016 Rio Olympic final defeat, as she gears up to face Spanish rival Carolina Marin, in the final of the India Open Superseries badminton championship.

The two have met each other on a number of occasions, with the most memorable clash being the Olympic final match, which the Spaniard edged. Meanwhile, Sindhu had defeated Marin in the Dubai World Superseries final.

Sindhu has had a tricky path leading up to the final of the India Open, as she had to defeat compatriot and 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal in the quarter finals, and world no. 4 South Korean shuttler Sung Ji Hyun in the semifinal.

Meanwhile, Marin breezed past Anake Yamaguchi in straight games in her semifinal.