Top seed and world number one Carolina Marin went up against rising star V.Sindhu Pusarla who had quite a run here in the gold medal match in the women’s singles. It was Marin’s second Olympic games as the multiple world champion looks to take home the coveted gold medal. Standing in her way was 21-year-old Pusarla, who already did her nation proud reaching the finals in her first Olympics participation.
The pair has met six times before with the Spaniard leading 4-2. She took the lead in the opening game but lost it right at the end as Pusarla came back to grab the first game. Marin then showed why she is world number one with some sensational skills to level the match. In the decider, the Indian gave it her all but it was not enough as Marin powered her way to gold with a 19-21, 21-12, 21-15 victory.
Pusarla with an incredible comeback to snatch the first game
Seventh meeting. 4-2 Marin leads. In a well-constructed rally, Marin’s drop shot too good and the Spaniard finished at the net for a 4-2 lead. The gap extended to four points after a couple of errors from Pusarla. The Indian pulled back one of it with a quick smash then the Spaniard could only return into the net. Marin was a tad quicker pulling Pusarla side to side before finishing with a smash for 9-5. With a superbly hit diagonal drop shot, Marin nosed ahead for 11-6.
The Spaniard was pulling away with a 12-6 lead but the Indian won three straight points in a row with some great defensive work to reduce the deficit to 9-12. Marin’s shots were coming at so much pace at the Indian but Pusarla kept close to the Spaniard closing the gap from 11-15 to 13-15. A service fault from Marin kept the difference to two points and Pusarla followed it up with a great serve to put herself just one point behind the Spaniard for 15-16.
The opening game was getting tighter and an absorbing rally kept Pusarla to within a point at 16-17. Marin though extended her lead to 19-16 with a smash after a poor shot from the Indian but errors from the Spaniard then allowed the Indian to finally draw level at 19-19. And it was Pusarla with the pressure to set up game point. An amazing defensive shot from Pusarla leaves Marin scrambling back who could only hit wide as the Indian sealed the first game 21-19 after trailing for most parts.
Marin bounces back strongly
Marin shrugged off the disappointing end to the first game and came charging back to a 4-0 lead. Pusarla was snatching away her shots and soon trailed eight points at 2-10. Marin was in full control giving the Indian no time, running away with an 11-2 lead as the game reached the halfway mark.
After the break, Pusarla had some respite winning the next two points but it was always Marin a tad quicker and applying all the pressure on the Indian. The Spaniard’s deceptive shots also troubled Pusarla who just wasn’t able to claw her way back into the game. Marin with one of her exquisite drop shots created for herself game points at 20-12 and she wrapped up the game with another dropper to level the match 1-1.
Marin fends off the fighting Pusarla to claim gold
In the deciding game, the world number one was quick off the mark racing ahead for 6-1. Pusarla stepped it up a notch and started attacking with a bit more intent to reduce the gap to 4-7. Marin nosed ahead for 9-4 but the Indian was fighting hard to stay in it coming up with some glorious shots to peg back to 8-9. An enticing rally which saw some great shots from both women including incredible droppers and brilliant pickups went the way of Pusarla who eventually caught up to tie the game 10-10.
Marin was once again first to 11 points as the players took a break. Marin took control to open up a four-point lead for 16-12 as the game reached the crucial stage. Pusarla pushed back to win two points but the Spaniard regained her four-point lead for 18-14. With her aggressive play, Marin then set up six gold medal points for 20-14. And the world number one clinched the gold on her second match point.
The Spaniard dropped to the ground in tears after the win as Pusarla finished as the silver medalist. Due to Li Xuerei's injury withdrawal, Japan's Nozomi Okuhara took home the bronze.