PV Sindhu wins historic gold, crushes Nozomi Okuhara in BWF World Championships final

2013 - Bronze. 2014 - Bronze. 2017 - Silver. 2018 - Silver. 2019 - GOLD!

PV Sindhu has become third time lucky. The World No. 5 is now the first Indian shuttler to win a gold at BWF World Championships. She is also the joint-most successful women's singles shuttler at the world meet, having won 5 medals in just 6 appearances.

PV Sindhu became only the 4th singles player ever to have a full set of world championship medals.

PV Sindhu's inability to win the gold medal had been a major talking point. At times, the 24-year-old had to address it at press conferences, interviews and public appearances.

On Sunday in Basel, Sindhu, it seems, wanted to put an end to all the debate surrounding her inability to win the yellow metal, debate around her temperament in big matches.

The Olympic silver medallist became the world champion and in style!

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Champion Stuff from @Pvsindhu1 as she becomes first Indian to be crowned World Champion. Kudos Girl, takes sweet revenge against @nozomi_o11 defeating her 21-7,21-7 in the finals of #BWFWC2019.

Nation rejoices!????#IndiaontheRise pic.twitter.com/UzmgTsNBji BAI Media (@BAI_Media) August 25, 2019

5th seed PV Sindhu took on 3rd seed and former champion Nozomi Okuhara in a repeat of the 2017 World Championships final in Basel. Two years ago, the two shuttlers battled for 110 minutes, the longest final in the history of the tournament.

Sindhu had given it her all. She had never been pushed around like how she was by the pint-sized Japanese shuttler. Despite leaving every bit of energy she had in her on the court, Sindhu finished the second best and finished with a silver.

Two years later, Sindhu never gave an opportunity to Okuhara to do anything close to what she did in 2017. The final was over in just 32 minutes. Sindhu won it 21-7, 21-7 in just 38 minutes to become the first Indian to win a gold at the BWF World Championships.

'Can't remember such a one-sided final'

Celebrated commentator Gillian Clarke quipped: "I can’t remember such a one sided final." It was indeed one-way traffic.

The lack of drift at the St Jakobshalle in Basel worked wonders in Sindhu's favour. Her attacking game flourished. In the past, Sindhu had been tentative at the start in major finals. On Sunday, she was not.

Sindhu was at her best against Okuhara, who had no answers to the Indian shuttlers agressive approach. Sindhu was not giving it any air even in defence. She was using all four corners of the court and put pressure on Okuhara at the back-court -- something that Ratchanok Inatanon did well in the women's singles semi-final on Saturday. Sindhu was more clinical.

Sindhu raced to a 9-point lead the first mid-game break of the match. She was hitting winners at will. The victory cry at the end of every winner was telling a story -- Sindhu wanted to put behind the memories of the previous defeats. She did it emphatically.

Okuhara did not know what hit her in 38 minutes at the center court in Basel. It was all over quickly. Sindhu never let the aggression dip, never let Okuhara have a sniff, always controlled the rallies.

It was arguably the most one-sided final in the history of the sport.

Sindhu, the big tournament giant!

Sindhu's ability to step up at major tournaments comes to the fore once again. She was not in the best of the form in the lead up to the World Championships in Basel. In fact, the gold was her first title in 2019.

Sindhu was in danger of crashing out in the quarter-finals when her familiar foe Tai Tzu Ying was toying around in the first game. Tai took it 21-12. However, Sindhu fought back. She told the world she is not heading home without the yellow metal hanging around her neck. She came back from behind to win the match in three games.

There was no stopping Sindhu from thereon. She had conquered her biggest threat. In the semi-final, Chen Yufei was blown away. Sindhu maintained the record of not losing to a Chinese shuttler at the World Championships.

In the final, Okuhara faced the rage of India's most successful shuttler.

Tokyo Olympics next! And her rivals will be wary after watching how badly Sindhu wanted the gold in Basel. She will head into the Olympics as the reigning world champion!