2 years, 4 months, and 18 days: PV Sindhu ecstatic after ending title drought

PV Sindhu was elated with her win in the Syed Modi International final on Sunday, December 1. Sindhu defeated China’s Wu Luo Yu 21-14, 21-16 to clinch her third Syed Modi International title after winning it in 2017 and 2022. The Indian ace was also going through a major title drought in her career.

Sindhu would reveal the last time she was on the top step of the podium in an Instagram post, immediately after her win on Sunday. The Indian ace revealed that it has been 2 years, 4 months and 18 days since she had last won a title. Sindhu would also pay tribute to her team.

“2 years, 4 months, and 18 days. My team. My pride,” said Sindhu.

Sindhu returned to the court in 2024 after a lengthy injury lay-off and her first individual final was in the form of the Malaysia Masters. During the Paris Olympics, Sindhu had to bow out at the Round Of 16 stage to He Bingjiao of China.

Sindhu’s last title win came all the way back in July 2022 when she won the Singapore Open.

Also Read: Lakshya Sen wins Syed Modi International for 1st time, crushes Jia Teh in final

How did Sindhu win the Syed Modi International Final

Sindhu started strong in the opening game, leading 8-5 early on. Despite some resistance from Wu, the Indian maintained her composure to edge ahead 11-9 at the interval. Post-break, Sindhu elevated her game, pulling ahead to 15-10 and dominating the rallies to secure the first game with ease.

In the second game, Sindhu surged to an initial 3-0 lead, but Wu fought back, leveling the score at 10-10. The Chinese left-hander used sharp drops to trouble Sindhu, gaining a narrow 11-10 advantage at the break. However, Sindhu responded decisively, capitalizing on errors from Wu and unleashing a series of powerful smashes, which helped her reclaim control and build a 14-11 lead.

A well-placed body smash extended her advantage to 15-11 as Wu faltered under pressure, misjudging key shots. Sindhu then executed a deceptive forehand return at a critical moment, securing four match points. She sealed the victory and the title with a commanding smash, capping off a stellar performance.