Tokyo Olympics 2020: know about 3 rivals who stand between PV Sindhu and Gold

PV Sindhu is just one step away of creating history again. She is just one victory away from winning her second Olympic medal. 

On July 30, 2021, PV Sindhu of Team India celebrates her victory over YAMAGUCHI Akane of Team Japan during a women's singles quarterfinal match at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza during Day 7 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Chofu.

 By overcoming Japan's YAMAGUCHI Akane, the Rio 2016 silver medalist went to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 semi-finals. Sindhu can set a lot of records if she wins again in Tokyo.

No Indian woman has ever won two Olympic medals, and only two badminton players have ever reached the finals of the two Olympic singles events.

Sindhu is also hoping to reach an elusive milestone with these two achievements: Only one Indian athlete has ever won an individual gold medal at the Olympics: Abhinav Bindra.

However, if the 26-year-old athlete is to turn her Rio 2016 silver into gold, she must overcome two significant obstacles.

Sindhu will compete in the semi-finals against world number one Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei, and if she wins, she will face either Chen Yufei or He Bing Jiao (both of the People's Republic of China) in the final.

Let's take a look at some of Sindhu's opponents in the women's singles badminton tournament in Tokyo 2020.

1. Tai Tzu Ying (Chinese Taipei):

Road to Tokyo 2020 Rank: 2
BWF World Rank: 1
Clash with Sindhu: Semifinals
Record against Sindhu: 13-5
Olympic Games Performance: Tai has won his group matches both the times in two Olympic Games, but her Olympic dream has remained unfulfilled both the times, losing in the last 16th stage immediately thereafter. In the last 16 matches of Rio 2016, she lost to Tai Sindhu by a score of 13-21, 15-21.

From 2020 to present (Highlights)-
25 wins, 4 losses
Winner: All England Open 2020, BWF World Tour Finals 2020
Runner-up: Malaysia Masters 2020, Thailand Open 2021 (twice)
Also Read: From crying at missing sessions to winning Quarter-finals at Tokyo Olympics, know unknown facts about PV Sindhu

Career Highlights:
Asian Championships: 2 Gold Medals (2017, 2018), 1 Bronze Medal (2015)
BWF Grand Prix: 3 titles, 2 runner-up finishes
BWF Superseries: 12 titles, 6 runner-up finishes
BWF World Tour: 11 titles, 8 runner-up finishes


2. Chen Yufei (People's Republic of China)

Road to Tokyo 2020 Rank: 1
BWF World Rank: 2
Clash with Sindhu: Final
Record against Sindhu: 4-6

Olympic Games Performance: Tokyo 2020 is Chen Yufei's first Olympic appearance

From 2020 to present (Highlights)-
12 wins, 2 losses
Winner: Malaysia Masters 2020
Runner-up: All England Open 2020

Career Highlights:
World Championships: 2 Bronze Medals (2017, 2019)
Asian Championships: 1 Silver Medal (2018), 1 Bronze Medal (2019)
BWF Grand Prix: 1 title, 2 runner-up finishes
BWF World Tour: 9 titles, 4 runner-up finishes

3. He Bing Jiao (People's Republic of China):

Road to Tokyo 2020 Rank: 8
BWF World Rank: 9
Clash with Sindhu: Final 
Record against Sindhu: 9-6

Olympic Games Performance: Tokyo 2020 marks Bing Jiao's first Olympic appearance

From 2020 to present (Highlights)-
11 wins, 3 losses
Semifinals: Malaysia Masters 2020, Indonesia Masters 2020 

Career Highlights:
World Championships: 1 Bronze Medal (2018)
Asian Championships: 1 Silver Medal (2019), 1 Bronze Medal (2017)
BWF Grand Prix: 5 titles, 2 runner-up finishes
BWF Superseries: 2 titles, 1 runner-up finish
BWF World Tour: 1 title, 2 runner-up finishes