TOKYO (Japan): India’s badminton superstar P.V. Sindhu booked her place in the quarterfinals with a 21-15, 21-13 win over Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt on Thursday.
The 26-year-old world champion, who won silver at the 2016 Rio Games, would become only the second Indian ever to win an individual Olympic gold if she triumphs this week in Tokyo.
With Rio champion Carolina Marin of Spain absent with a serious knee injury, Sindhu has as good a chance as any in an open field.
“I’m sure a lot of people are expecting a lot, but for me, when I go out onto the court I just have to give my best. I shouldn’t think about what people are thinking — If I think about that, that would add extra pressure.”
Sindhu needed just 41 minutes to dispatch number 13 seed Blichfeldt and book her place in the last eight.
“I’m not thinking about playing in the final,” said Sindhu.
Other top results from Day 6
- MC Mary Kom lost 3:2 to the third-seeded Valencia in the round of 16 on Thursday at the Kokugikan Arena despite winning the final two rounds on the majority of the judges’ cards.
- India swimmer Sajan Prakash on Thursday failed to qualify for the semi-final of the men’s 100m butterfly event in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.
- India golfer Anirban Lahiri overcame a shaky start to post a solid first-round score of 4-under 67 for a share of the eighth position in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics men’s competition on Thursday.
Expectations high from Day 7
Equestrian Fouaad Mirza and golfer Anirban Lahiri will kick start Day Seven of the Tokyo Olympics for India but all eyes will be on archer Deepika Kumari and boxer Lovlina Borgohain.
Deepika will compete in women’s individual 1/8 eliminations while Lovlina will play her quarterfinal match of the showpiece event.
With Mary Kom’s exit from the mega sporting event, Lovlina will headline India’s charge in Boxing on Friday.
