Pullela Gopichand was tensed before sitting in front of the television at his academy office in Hyderabad on Saturday. The reason behind his tension was that his one of the most talented students Pusarla Venkat Sindhu would be participating in her crucial semi-final match against current World Champion Carolina Marin at the Odense Park in the Denmark Open badminton super series championship on Saturday.
Gopichand was simply mesmerized to have watched his student dancing down the court in the final game in spite of the fact that Sindhu was trailing by 9-11 points. Gopichand, speaking over the phone from Hyderabad on Saturday night, said, “It was simply amazing to watch Sindhu’s movement in the court and also I was astonished to see her brilliant close smashes which have more variety than before. You have to remember Sindhu was totally out of the court for five months due to her leg fracture.”
Sindhu, reaching the finals of Denmark Open, defeating Marin for the first time in their last four meetings, however, seems careful as she is aiming to clinch her maiden Super Series title after winning against Li Xuerui in the final. Li is the former World Champion from China. Sindhu’s father Ramanna, speaking from Hyderabad over the phone on Sunday morning said, “Sindhu called her mother and me after the match. Yes, she was extremely happy to have defeated Marin, returning to the court after five months. But at the same time, she said she would be celebrating this achievement only if she could win the tournament.”