 "Shuttler PV Sindhu plays a shot in the pre-quarter Finals match against Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei. Photo: PTI")
Shuttler PV Sindhu raised serious hopes of breaking India's long-awaited medal quest in the Rio Olympics by storming into the semifinals of the women's singles event with a stunning straight games win over London Games silver medallist Wang Yihan of China, here.
The two-time World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu, who came into the match with a 2-4 head-to-head record, dished out a compact game to outmanoeuvre the more experienced Wang 22-20 21-19 in a gruelling battle lasting 54 minutes.
The 21-year-old Indian now stands just a win away from assuring India an elusive medal at the Rio Olympics.
With the memorable win, Sindhu became the second Indian badminton player to reach an Olympic semifinal after Saina Nehwal achieved the feat four years ago.
Sindhu's win has overshadowed the fresh saga surrounding India's floundering campaign at the Rio Games on day 11 after World Anti-Doping Agency lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sports against the clean chit given to wrestler Narsingh Yadav by NADA in the dope scandal back home.
"WADA has appealed against the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) clearance in Court of Arbitration (CAS). Now the hearing is on and the IOA Secretary General (Rajeev Mehta) is there with WADA officials," Indian contingent's chef-de-mission Rakesh Gupta told PTI.
If CAS upholds WADA's appeal Narsingh, who is scheduled to fight in the 74kg freestyle category on August 19, will not only be able to take part in the Games here but could also face a career-threatening four-year ban.
Enduring a disastrous campaign thus far, the medal-less Indian contingent has been pinning its hopes mainly on shuttlers Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, besides its wrestlers - including world championship bronze medal winner Narsingh - to end the drought before the disheartening development.
Eleven days of action have failed to bring India, that won a record six medals in London four years ago, a single podium finish and there's growing desperation to end this poor run.
India's campaign now has been reduced to three disciplines - track and field, badminton and wrestling - after the flop show put up by the contingent in other sports.
It's woes continued on day 11 today when Hardeep Singh lost 1-2 in his opening encounter against Turkey's Ildem Cenk in the Greco-Roman 98kg category.
And adding to the miserable run was the news that some of its contingent members were served only "peanuts" at a dinner party organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports here on Independence Day, after having skipped dinner at the Games Village.
Having conquered world no. 2 Yihan, India's all hopes now rests on Sindhu who will face the winners of the last quarterfinal between Japan's Akane Yamaguchi and Nozomi Okuhara on August 18 for a place in the gold medal encounter.
The lanky shuttler from Hyderabad and Srikanth, who made it to the men's singles quarters, are the only two medal contenders left in the badminton competition after the shock elimination of last Games bronze medallist and former world no. 1 Saina Nehwal two days ago.
