PV Sindhu and Sameer Verma

Sure PV Sindhu and Sameer Verma would have preferred to become first Indians to win both men’s and women’s Super Series titles since Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth at the 2015 India Open. But with a run to the finals at the $400,000 Hong Kong Open, the two have met some personal goals.
Two Super Series finals in as many weeks is no mean feat from Sindhu. Having won the China Open Super Series Premier, the 21-year-old’s immediate target was to qualify for the year-ending World Super Series finals. The inspired run in Hong Kong not only paved her way to Dubai but also got her back into the top 10.
In Sunday’s final, Sindhu lost to Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying 15-21, 17-21. “It was a good game overall, but it was her day,” was Sindhu’s assessment.
It was Ying’s day alright. The 22-year-old had lost the last meeting against Sindhu, in the Rio Olympics round of 16. But on Sunday, she got her way with a mix of well-timed lobs and drop shots. Known to be adventurous, imaginative and unorthodox, Ying would hold the racquet up and push at the last possible moment. When back in the court, she’d trump Sindhu with disguised drops and well-placed smashes. At the net, she’d outmove the Indian and control the tempo. Sindhu’s trademark overhead smashes were few and far between, with the 5’10” Indian struggling to reach shots and stay in play.
Rightfully so, Ying became the world No. 1 with the win, after beating her predecessor and reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin twice in two weeks. And while Marin is faltering as the year draws to a close, Sindhu, the other finalist in Rio, is finishing strong.