PV Sindhu returned to the winner's circle in style, beating Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt 21-12, 21-14 in the Hylo Open final on Sunday to clinch her second title of the season. The Indian shuttler wrapped up a dominant campaign in Germany with a straight-games victory.
The triumph came a week after Sindhu finished runner-up at the French Open, where she lost to world No. 1 An Se Young in the final. The two-time Olympic medallist had also won the Japan Open in July, making the Hylo Open her second title on the BWF World Tour this season.
HOW SINDHU TOOK DOWN KJAERSFELDT
Sindhu made a confident start to the opening game, but Kjaersfeldt kept the contest tight in the early exchanges. The Dane tested the Indian across the court and pushed her to 5-5 before Sindhu began to take control. She moved ahead 11-8 at the interval and maintained her advantage despite Kjaersfeldt's attempts to fight back. Sindhu's sharp returns and attacking play helped her close out the game 21-12.
The second game was more competitive, with Kjaersfeldt briefly reducing the deficit from 7-3 to 7-6. However, Sindhu regained control, forcing errors and stretching her opponent across the court. She led 11-7 at the break and pulled further clear to 19-11. Despite a late fightback from Kjaersfeldt, Sindhu held her nerve to seal the title.
SINDHU CARRIES HER IMPRESSIVE FORM
Sindhu carried her impressive form into the Hylo Open, capping a dominant campaign with another title. The second seed was in control from the outset and did not drop a single game en route to the trophy.
She began her campaign with a comfortable 21-10, 21-10 win over Prakriti Bharath of the UAE before registering a dominant 21-9, 21-6 victory over France's Rosy Oktavia Pancasari in just 26 minutes to enter the quarter-finals.
The Indian maintained her dominance in the last eight, defeating Germany's Amalie Schulz 21-12, 21-10 to book her place in the semi-finals. She then faced promising 19-year-old compatriot Anmol Kharb in an all-Indian clash. Sindhu held her nerve against a spirited challenge from the youngster, winning 21-13, 21-16 to seal her place in the final.
Sindhu carried that momentum into the title clash, overcoming Kjaersfeldt in straight games to complete an unbeaten run in Germany. The victory was another sign of her growing confidence after the strong showing at the French Open, where she had reached the final before settling for the runner-up spot.
The Hylo Open title gives Sindhu another important boost as she looks to build consistency on the international circuit. After falling short in Paris, she made the most of her next opportunity, ending her European campaign with a second title of the season.