Form favours Sindhu,record Intanon

Sindhu is 13-8 this year,not as impressive as Ratchanok’s 22-5,but starts as a firm favourite after her giant-killing two days when she single-handedly halved China’s medal contenders,removing two of the four at Guangzhou — Yihan Wang and Shixian Wang,both former World No 1s.

In their last and only encounter at the India Open Super Series a few months ago,Sindhu was humbled 21-12,21-6 in just over 30 minutes. But with Ratchanok looking a tad distracted in her quarterfinal win over a yuppy Spaniard,and Sindhu carrying phenomenal momentum from her back-to-back Chinese ambushes,the Indian will turn up at the Tianhe Stadium — one,assured of a medal and secondly,armed with an aura of a booming cannon.

“Last time she got beaten badly,but everything points to Saturday being a different match in which Sindhu has a very strong chance of winning,” former India No 1 Aparna Popat who has closely followed both their career,says. While Sindhu’s brush with global fame can be pinned to the last two days,Ratchanok,a multiple junior world champion,has forever carried the tag of a future world-beater. The future — as happens in the post-Olympic year churning — is nearer than imagined.

“Ratchanok didn’t seem very focussed in her quarters,and Sindhu was the epitome of focus,not putting a foot wrong. If the Thai can be put under pressure,and Sindhu plays freely like she’s nothing to lose,we could see her in the final,” Popat adds. Both carry wild expectations of fans back home from countries that are tipped as badminton’s strongest emerging nations. The girls themselves are brimming with aspiration — Sindhu almost displaying Saina-esque fearlessness while Ratchanok carries a reputation of being so talented that even the Chinese covet her presence in their franchise league.

The Thai is known for her mesmerising game,and at a time when women shuttlers are indistinguishable in their slavish efficiencies and no-nonsense countenance,with all countries playing virtually the same game prototypes,Ratchanok has emerged as if from a timeless world. “There’s no pattern to her game. Every match,she’ll come up with newer strokes and it’s a treat to watch her because others are robotic,” Popat says.

However,this very flair and her over-indulgence and resultant errors that sometimes prove to be her undoing. Unlike the elegant Olympic champion Gong Zhichao (Sydney 2000) whom she resembles,Ratchanok can be overpowered by precision,and Sindhu is in just that sort of bull-headed form currently,not to mention many notches more ambitious.

Live on Sony Six: 9:30 am onwards