New Delhi:
Indian shuttler PV Sindhu, World No. 10 from Hyderabad, will take on two-time World Champion and top seed, left-handed Carolina Marin of Spain in the Women's badminton singles final at Rio Olympics Games on Friday.
If Sindhu defeats Marin in the finals today, she will become the first Indian to win a gold medal in the the event at Olympics. Sindhu scripted history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian shuttler to reach the finals of the women's singles competition in the Olympics as she stunned Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in straight games to assure India of at least a silver medal.
The two-time bronze medallist at World Championship notched up a sensational 21-19 21-10 victory over the All England Champion from Japan in a pulsating semi-final that lasted 49 minutes. After her semi-final win on Thursday, Sindhu said she would give in her best today to win the coveted gold medal.
"My target will be to win the gold and I will give my heart out. I feel I really worked hard each and every time. Everybody's aim is to get a medal at the Olympics, one more match to go. Definitely I feel that I've a chance," Sindhu had said.
Sindhu's father PV Ramana is hopeful of a good summit clash against Marin on Friday and feels there's a 50-50 chance of her daughter winning the match.
"It will be 50-50 chances (to win gold medal in finals today), because both of them are in good form. And it is left-right combination," Sindhu's father Ramana said.
"And Carolina Marin must be having so many right handers to play. But these right handers will not be having so many left handers to play," he said.
"However, the way she (Sindhu) played yesterday (Thursday), if she continues it will be a very good match," he said.
Sindhu's father PV Ramana was speechless and credited coach Pullela Gopichand after Sindhu's victory on Thursday.
"Very, very happy no words to describe. From the age of 10 Gopi has taken care of her. We are very grateful to him and Sindhu has also struggled to win an Olympic medal.
"I pray God to give her good health. I wish she wins so no one can say anything," Ramana said.
Her mother P Vijaya said, "I want to congratulate Sakshi for winning bronze and Sindhu, we are very happy for her victory."
On his daughter's performance, Ramana said, "Yesterday (Thursday) it was excellent performance. We are happy that the child made us proud."
The immensely talented Hyderabadi girl has done a notch better than her illustrious senior Saina Nehwal, who got country's its first medal from badminton -- a bronze in London 2012.
(With inputs from PTI)
