PV Sindhu Promises Best In Her 'Biggest Match' vs Carolina Marin in Rio 2016

Yellow is turning out to be lucky colour for PV Sindhu. She painted Rio red on Thursday with a commanding 21-19, 21-10 Rio 2016 semifinal win against Japan's Nozomi Okuhara at the RioCentro Pavilion.

In a Games where there have been little hurrah for India, 21-year-old Sindhu has raised hopes of a badminton gold after Sakshi Malik's historic Olympic medal. But a measured Sindhu told NDTV that the final against world champion Carolina Marin on Friday evening at 7: 30 PM IST will be a 'tough' job.

"My target is gold and I will play my heart out. It will be the biggest match of my career," said Sindhu, a world championship bronze medallist.

On Thursday night, wrestler Sakshi Malik created history by winning a bronze medal, India's first in Rio 2016. India's girl power is surely coming to the fore towards the end of the Summer Games.



Sindhu has been in blistering form in Rio. Using her height and reach against Okuhara, the Hyderabad girl used her telling aggression to win the big points in the first game. She was ruthless in the second and won 11 points on-the-trot to storm into the final.

"I didn't take it easy at any point. I feel she played good too and there were so many rallies," Sindhu told NDTV soon after her momentous win.

There was praise from her coach Pullela Gopichand.

"She has played fantastic in every match. She will give her best shot against Marin," said Gopichand to NDTV.

Carolina Marin has been in great form. The left-handed Spaniard demolished the reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui 21-14, 21-16 in less than an hour. The Chinese was gutted after suffering a knee injury down 18-16 in the second game.

Sindhu understands the enormity of playing a world champion like Carolina.

"I will prepare well for Marin," a tired but a very happy Sindhu signed off.

(With inputs from Suprita Das)