PV Sindhu Dominates In Opening Match At Paris Olympics, Cruises To Straight-Game Victory
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu began her Paris Olympics campaign with a commanding straight-game victory over Maldives’ Fathimath Abdul Razzaq in the women’s singles group stage on Sunday.
Sindhu, aiming for her third Olympic medal, showcased her superior class, taking just 29 minutes to defeat her lower-ranked opponent 21-9, 21-6 in the Group M fixture.
After a few initial unforced errors, Sindhu quickly adapted to the conditions and seized control, racing to an 11-4 lead. The world No. 111 Fathimath was no match for the former world champion, who wrapped up the first game in just 13 minutes.
The second game followed a similar pattern, with Sindhu taking the first four points rapidly to gain an early lead. Although Razzaq briefly narrowed the gap to 3-4, Sindhu soon pulled ahead again, extending her lead to 10-3.
Sindhu had 14 match points and needed just one to secure the victory. The 10th-seeded Indian, who won silver at the Rio 2016 Games and bronze in Tokyo 2020, will face World No. 75 Kristin Kuuba of Estonia in her second group match on Wednesday.