“From the first game I just went for the win and it was important for me that every point mattered. Even though I was leading I didn’t take it easy, may be, couple of points I made unforced errors but I made sure I came back into the game and thought that I should be consistent.”
“Overall, it’s been a good week, good matches, so I am happy with the win. In the whole week each match was important because even though I was playing with Indians I could see good talented youngsters who are coming up and are really doing well.”
“It was good she (Bansod) is an upcoming player and she is doing really well. She had some good matches in quarterfinals and semifinals. She played well and there were some good rallies.”
“I think it was a sweet revenge. In India Open I lost to Supanida and here I won against her in the quarterfinals. My game is perfectly alright. Last week in the Indian Open it wasn’t my day and I think it happens. That day matters who plays well and gives their best comes out winner. But I played with her (Supanida) again here and it was sweet revenge that I won against her this time. So I am happy with my form. Every medal means a lot to me because there are a lot of memories with these and I am sure and hope I will get many more medals looking forward.”
— Quotes via PTI
05.45 pm: Here’s a look at the results of the day. A couple of titles for the second week running for Indian players, but more crucially, experience and ranking points for those trying to make their mark on the international stage.
Men’s doubles final, India 18-21, 15-21 Malaysia: A straight-games win for the Malaysian pair. Krishna Prasad and Vishnuvardhan had some good moments but not consistent enough in the end.
(Scores corrected)
Men’s doubles final, India 18-21, 14-20 Malaysia: Match points galore...
Men’s doubles final, India 18-21, 13-18 Malaysia: Oh big points in the match. The Indians trying too hard to paint the lines and proving futile. Misjudgement at the back-line after that, and the game has slipped away quickly.
Men’s doubles final, India 18-21, 13-13 Malaysia: Fantastic short rally, flat exchanges and the Indians level things up.
Men’s doubles final, India 18-21, 10-11 Malaysia: Indians couldn’t quite make the most of the early dominant phase. Man / Tee have a lead into the interval, the smallest possible.
Men’s doubles final, India 18-21, 7-4 Malaysia: Vishnuvardhan taking charge of proceedings and the Indians have a good lead in the early stages.
Men’s doubles final, India 18-21 Malaysia: Seems comfortable on the graph for the Malaysians but it was a question of two points at the end that the Indians needed to avoid errors! Would’ve been an even game otherwise. The rallies in the 2nd half should hopefully make it an even closer 2nd game.
Men’s doubles final, India 17-20 Malaysia: Oh big error. The Indians had the rally on their rackets but an error from Vishnu means it’s 3 game points for Malaysia instead of a 1-point game.
Men’s doubles final, India 17-19 Malaysia: New candidate for best rally of the match and that’s a good sign. The shot quality has improved from the Indians and it is making for a good battle. A short rally after that long one, and it is a 2-point game.
Men’s doubles final, India 13-17 Malaysia: Best rally of the match! That should give hope to the Indians going forward. Classic quick men’s doubles, well left in the end.
Men’s doubles final, India 11-17 Malaysia: Miscommunication between the Indians and they aren’t able to make the most of a racket change from their opponents. Got into a tangle with Krishna moving from back from front. Couple of errors after that and this game is slipping away quickly.
Men’s doubles final, India 8-12 Malaysia: Good energy from the Indians, Krishna with a couple of winners... need more of those.
Men’s doubles final, India 6-11 Malaysia: And from that point on, Malaysians won three quick flat exchanges. Into a good lead at the mid-game interval.
Men’s doubles final, India 6-8 Malaysia: Krishna/Vishnu finding their groove after a error-prone start. Still need to stop finding the net often on rallies. A service error gives Vishnu the serve with a two-point deficit.
Men’s doubles final, India vs Malaysia: Another India-Malaysia battle here for the final final of the day. First meeting between Krishna Prasad/Vishnuvardhan and Man Wei Chong/Kai Wun Tee. World No 74 vs World No 65.
Women’s doubles final: Was going to be a tougher test today anyway but have to wonder how much that semifinal took out of Gayatri Gopichand & Treesa Jolly. Physically not at the same intensity. A silver to remember, but more importantly, to use a springboard.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 13-21 Malaysia: The older, more experienced Malaysian pair proved to be too strong for the Indian teenagers who can take a lot out of this week in reaching the final. They showed in the semis that their game is at a decent level, and like Bansod earlier, a good lesson in where they can improve. (Both certainly need more international game time and these ranking points will help).
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 13-19 Malaysia: Much like the Malvika match, the best rally for the Indian youngsters comes a bit late in the match. 31 shots. Well played, that. The Indians have the serve back at 13.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 9-18 Malaysia: That summed it up for India. A 25-shot rally, Gayatri had at least two easy kill shots but the defence of Malaysians holds good and the error comes from the Indian.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 8-16 Malaysia: No, doesn’t look like the belief is quite there for the Indians. They started the second game brilliantly yesterday but the more experienced Malaysians haven’t given them a way in. Hardly any long rallies still by WD standards.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 6-11 Malaysia: The Indians are getting into better positions on points now, the rallies are a bit more even. But the scoreboard pressure will start to show if they can’t get a few quick points after the break.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 5-9 Malaysia: A service error from Treesa but she makes up for it next point with a good rally. Oh, then a lovely short serve by Gayatri! Reviewed... unsuccessful. Nicely done.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 3-8 Malaysia: The lifts are getting intercepted so early by the Malaysians. No chance on defence for India when that happens.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21, 1-5 Malaysia: Need a run of points and need it quickly, the Indians.
Women’s doubles final, India 12-21 Malaysia: It was close for the early exchanges but the Malaysians’ pace once they got going was too much to handle for the Indian youngsters. Stern test now... sterner than yesterday for sure.
Women’s doubles final, India 11-17 Malaysia: Not too many long rallies in this one so far, and Malaysians having more joy in the shorter exchanges. The Indians showed great strength in the longer rallies yesterday. Need to get into that groove. The points are ending far too quickly at the moment.
Women’s doubles final, India 7-11 Malaysia Cheong/Teoh take an 11-7 lead into the mid-game break but this could be a close one gauging from the early exchanges.
Women’s doubles final, India vs Malaysia: The Malaysians are older and more experienced, their current ranking is 138 but haven’t been together long as pair. In the past, they have each been top 50 with different partners. Here’s their paths to the finals.
Women’s doubles final, India vs Malaysia: Time for what could be the best match of the day. Gayatri/Treesa up against Malaysians for the second time in two days.
TITLE FOR SINDHU: Tall order for Malvika Bansod today (sorry!), but hopefully from her India Open & Syed Modi experience, enough to tell her what she’s good at & where she needs to improve. Been tough 2 yrs for youngsters, 2022 must be a breakthrough
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-13, 21-16 Malvika Bansod: A 32 or 33-shot rally that ended with a super close line call going in favour of Sindhu after review (it truly is her day when that happens!) gave her match point. That was the sort of rally we needed see more of from Malvika. She saves one match point but Sindhu clinches it in the second attempt. End of a title wait.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-13, 20-15 Malvika Bansod: Perhaps the first real vocal emotion from Sindhu as she nails a round-the-head smash because she knows this is a better battle now. MB comes back with two more points. Best rally of the match unfolding... and it ends with Sindhu challenging a push to the backcourt called out. It is IN! Oh by inches. Match point. Too bad the best rally came at this point.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-13, 17-11 Malvika Bansod: Another good little phase for MB. A nice, precise DTL smash and then a good front-and-back one-two to force the error from Sindhu.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-13, 16-8 Malvika Bansod: Sindhu just getting a tad impatient, going for the kill too early but as I say that, plays a nice rally to stay with Malvika and impose herself at the end of a good point. Another decent rally, finishes with Sindhu playing a super crosscourt and Malvika flatfooted a bit.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-13, 11-4 Malvika Bansod: Unfortunately for Malvika, in this particular phase, she did the harder things well and the simpler things escaped her. At least on three occasions, constructed good rallies but found the net with the more routine shot.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-13, 9-3 Malvika Bansod: That’s more like it. A straight smash to Sindhu’s backhand, with a nice follow up to the net. A leaf out of Katethong (and other lefties who trouble Sindhu) playbook. But of course, easier to do once than to consistently be at it. Sindhu too mixing things up well and to her credit, hasn’t looked one bit lethargic.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-13 Malvika Bansod: A couple of game points saved by Malvika Bansod but Sindhu plays a good crosscourt game to close it out on a rally. The youngster can hopefully take some confidence from her 12 points post interval when she trailed 1-11.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 17-11 Malvika Bansod: Sindhu’s radar is finely tuned today. She is finding the angles at will and when she does that, few players better in the world. MB, to her credit, is trying to rally a bit more but by playing the four corners. The lifts were too short in the early stages. Another nice drop winner in this run of points.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 14-6 Malvika Bansod: Good, good. Mini fist bump as MB moves PVS around the court and finishes a point with a nice push to the backcourt. Couple of errors from Sindhu after that.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 14-3 Malvika Bansod: Need to see a few more risks from Malvika Bansod. Drops & crosscourts at net for starters would be nice. Understandably nervy at the start, but she is better than what she showed in the starting exchanges... and a better start after interval, with a drop winner. Sindhu though is just overpowering her in rallies.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 11-1 Malvika Bansod: Sindhu has been aggressive right from the start and Bansod finally wins a point to make it 1-7. But it has been all Sindhu otherwise. Malvika just needs to gather herself and play like she’s got nothing to lose. Seems to be a bit tight at the moment.
Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu vs Malvika Bansod: It’s time for the headline event. Here’s how Sindhu and Malvika got to the final. Malvika, a left-hander, is a strong rally player. But while Sindhu has her issue with left-handers, remains to be seen if Malvika can play at the pace that troubles Sindhu
A super 300 title for the young pair, hopefully can keep going from strength to strength.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 21-16, 21-12 Srivedya/Hemanagendra: The teenage-pair, considered to be promising prospects in mixed doubles, ease their way to a Super 300 title. Straight games win in quick time. Keep an eye out for them. They have been domestically in fine form, now need to start showing it at the World Tour. The semifinals was as good as a final for them, having defeated MR Arjun / Treesa Jolly.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 21-16, 20-12 Srivedya/Hemanagendra: Eight match points.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 21-16, 11-7 Srivedya/Hemanagendra: Ishaan/Tanisha are enjoying the occasion. A super 300 title is imminent for them.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 21-16 Srivedya/Nagendra: Close start to the game but after the early exchanges, Tanisha/Ishaan always looked in control. The all-teen pair take the lead in this match, 21-16.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 20-16 Srivedya/Nagendra: Nagendra and Srivedya have saved two game points. Lovely backhand winner from the former.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 19-14 Srivedya/Nagendra: Three teenagers on the court with Hema Nagendra Babu the veteran by some distance at 25. Just a bit too easy at the moment for the more seasoned all-teen pair.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 11-7 Srivedya/Nagendra: Tanisha is a very aggressive player from the front-court, while Ishaan controls proceedings from the back. They are off to a solid start.
Mixed doubles finals, Tanisha/Ishaan 7-7 Srivedya/Nagendra: Good close start to this match but expect Tanisha/Ishaan to take control once they settle in.
Mixed doubles finals, India vs India: Here’s how the two pairs got to the final. Tanisha/Ishaan should be favourites for this one.
02.06 pm: Not the best news to start of finals day. The All-French men’s singles final has been declared a “no match” and not a walkover as one of the participant tested positive for Covid-19 & the other deemed a close contact.
BWF Statement: The men’s singles final of the Syed Modi India International 2022 has been declared a ‘No Match’. BWF can confirm one of the finalists tested positive for COVID-19 this morning. The other finalist is deemed a close contact and has also been withdrawn. Details on winner status, world ranking points and prize money will be revealed in due course. Today’s other four finals will go ahead as scheduled.
2.05 pm: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Syed Modi International Super 300. It’s finals day.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu reached the women’s singles final of the Syed Modi International badminton tournament after her fifth seeded Russian opponent Evgeniya Kosetskaya retired hurt midway into their semifinal in Lucknow on Saturday.
Former world champion Sindhu will face compatriot Malvika Bansod in the summit clash on Sunday. It’s been a while since Sindhu won a BWF World Tour title and while a Super 300 isn’t necessarily the biggest available prize, it is still a title and Sindhu would be desperate to get her hands on that.
Four doubles pairs from India will also be competing across three finals on Sunday.
Screenshots courtesy DD Sports / Tournament Software.