Sindhu clinches maiden World Tour Finals c'ship

Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu clinched her maiden World Tour Finals championship after defeating Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in the summit showdown here on Sunday.

The 23-year-old, who thrashed her Japanese opponent 21-19, 21-17, became the first ever Indian to win the season-ending championship. Previously, former world number one Saina Nehwal had made it to the finals of the tournament but could not register a win. Sindhu too had reached the final of the World Tour Finals, last year, but had returned without the title.

It was Sindhu's day on the court as she showed sheer dominance in the final match. The first game started with the Indian taking a four-point lead over the Japanese. An appropriate use of corners and occasional net play proved fruitful for Sindhu.

Okuhara made a couple of comeback attempts, along with some attacks on Sindhu's backhand, but the Indian shuttler registered a convincing 21-19 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

A confident Sindhu carried the winning momentum in the second game as well. The pressure started to reflect in Okuhara's game as she rushed her shots that were ending in errors. A couple of long rallies brought the Japanese shuttler back in the match as she narrowed down her trail to just two points now.

Sindhu, however, maintained her calm in the final tense moments as she sealed the game and the championship with a solid smash.