Rio de Janeiro: India's Pusarla V Sindhu kisses her silver medal after her match with Spain's Carolina Marin in women's Singles final at the 2016 Summer Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Friday.
Rio de Janeiro: India’s Pusarla V Sindhu kisses her silver medal after her match with Spain’s Carolina Marin in women’s Singles final at the 2016 Summer Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Friday.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Diya TV) — P.V. Sindhu bagged a historic silver medal for India in the women’s singles badminton competition Friday, elevating the country’s medal count to two after wrestler Sakshi Malik won the bronze in the 58-kilogram Freestyle category Aug. 17.

She was defeated 21-19, 12-21, 15-21 in the final by the world’s No. 1 ranked player, Carolina Marin of Spain.

While she conceded a gold would have been better, the 21-year-old Sindhu rejoiced in the result, saying, “I am really proud that I could get a silver medal at the Olympics. A gold would have been good but I played very well.”

“Initially, I did not think I would win a medal. But when I came into medal contention the aim was to play well, which I did. I played my best. My opponent also played a good game.”

“I implemented all the strategies which we had discussed, and I am very happy that I could get a silver,” she added.

The entire nation of India paused for the one hour and 20 minute match, which was played at the Riocentro. The Hyderabad native kicked things off on a positive note, but with the match deadlocked at 3-3, the Spaniard assumed complete control of the contest, winning four consecutive points and a lead of 7-3.

Sindhu managed to capture the first game, which itself lasted 27 minutes. She fought back from a 6-11 deficit in doing so.

In the second game, Marin attacked the net early and often. Sindhu found herself at a loss to defend, and quickly fell behind 2-11 in the game. She made a valiant effort to fight back after the break, but Marin, who has been dubbed Spain’s “Girl Nadal” after tennis star Rafael Nadal, used her prowess to seize complete control of the game, winning by the final score of 21-12.