Lucknow: Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen shone brightly at the Syed Modi International, bringing home the women’s and men’s singles titles in spectacular fashion. The tournament, held at Lucknow’s Babu Banarasi Das Badminton Academy, also saw Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand make history by securing their first-ever BWF World Tour title in women’s doubles.
PV Sindhu vs. Wu Luo Yu in the 2024 Syed Modi International final (full match):
PV Sindhu, the top seed in women’s singles and currently ranked World No. 18, delivered a commanding performance in the final, defeating China’s Wu Luo Yu 21-14, 21-16. This victory marks her third Syed Modi International title, adding to her wins in 2017 and 2022. The win also signifies an important comeback for Sindhu, who missed last year’s edition due to injury and faced a challenging season in 2024.
Sindhu started the match with intent, building an early 5-3 lead against Wu. Despite the Chinese shuttler keeping pace, Sindhu maintained control with sharp smashes and intelligent placement. Heading into the mid-game interval of the first set, she held an 11-9 edge and then extended her lead to 20-14 before closing out the game with a decisive finish at 21-14.
The second set was a tighter affair, with Wu putting up a strong fight to take a slim 11-10 lead at the interval. Recognizing the challenge, Sindhu raised her intensity, launching a 5-0 run that swung the momentum firmly in her favor. Her experience and precision proved too much for Wu, as Sindhu wrapped up the second set 21-16 to secure the championship.
Reflecting on her win, Sindhu said, “Wu put up a great fight today, and it was an exciting match. After a tough year, it feels amazing to finish the season with a title. This victory gives me the motivation I need for the upcoming year.”
Lakshya Sen, India’s Commonwealth Games gold medalist and World No. 14, put on a clinic in the men’s singles final, defeating Singapore’s Jason Teh Jia Heng with a commanding 21-6, 21-7 scoreline. The match lasted just over 30 minutes, as Sen’s relentless attack left Teh, the fourth seed, struggling to find his footing.
Lakshya Sen vs. Jason Teh Jia Heng in the 2024 Syed Modi International final (full match):
Sen’s performance was characterized by aggressive play, sharp net control, and precision in rallies. The win marks his fifth BWF World Tour title and his first since capturing the Canada Open in 2023.
Speaking about his victory, Sen said, “This title means a lot to me, especially after some close finishes earlier in the year. It’s a great way to end the season and gives me confidence going into 2025.”
In the women’s doubles final, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand achieved a career milestone by clinching their first-ever BWF World Tour title. The Indian pair defeated China’s Li Jing Bao and Qian Li in straight games, winning 21-18, 21-11.
“We’re thrilled to win our first title, and it’s even more special to do it at the Syed Modi International. This is just the beginning for us,” said Gopichand after the match.
Their win also makes them the first Indian women’s doubles pair to claim the Syed Modi International crown, a historic moment for Indian badminton.
In the men’s doubles final, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K gave it their all but fell short against China’s Huang Di and Liu Yang in a grueling 71-minute match. Despite taking the second game to force a decider, the Indian duo lost 14-21, 21-19, 17-21, settling for a valiant runner-up finish.
The mixed doubles final saw India’s Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila face Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supisara Paewsampran. Tanisha and Dhruv made a strong start, winning the first game 21-18. However, the Thai pair rallied back to win the next two games 21-14, 21-8, taking the title.
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