Fury on court but off it, Sindhu and Marin are friends

PETALING JAYA: There is no hostility between badminton giants P. V. Sindhu and Carolina Marin.

Longtime friends and rivals, Sindhu of India and Marin of Spain have had various encounters on the court, with tensions rising as they compete against each other to come out on top in the women’s singles.

The 2023 Denmark Open semi-finals saw both players lock horns, receiving yellow cards for their verbal exchanges on court during the match.

However, both players have cleared the air regarding their relationship, stating that the war on court does not reflect their friendship.

India’s Sindhu recently congratulated Marin on her victory at the All-England, and at the same time clarified on the unique friendship both players have.

“We wage war every time we play, but off the court, the smiles and friendship always persist, as they always should, said Sindhu.

“Always wonderful to cross paths with you, dear friend! Congratulations on All-England”.

Sindhu’s campaign at the All-England ended in the second round as she was defeated by South Korea’s An Se-young 21-19, 21-11, while Marin claimed the title after Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi retired in the second set of the final.

After their heated fixture last year, Marin quickly apologised to Sindhu on social media, thanking her Indian counterpart for the intense battle on court.

“Thanks for a good battle. Both of us were fighting to win that game but on my side I never wanted to fight against you personally. “Sorry to show this kind of behaviour in front of everyone. See you soon mate!” Marin said.

The Denmark Open semi-finals was the last time both shuttlers met in a tournament, and Marin still holds the head-to-head advantage over Sindhu, having won 11 out of their 16 previous encounters.