Spanish badminton world number one Carolina Marin defeated Indian shuttler P. V. Sindhu in three games to win Olympic gold in the women’s singles Friday.
Marin, who celebrated almost every victorious point by shrieking at the top of her voice, lost the first game 21-19 but grabbed the second 21-12 before clinching gold with a 21-15 win in the decider.
It was a first gold medal for the 23-year-old Spaniard, who was told off by the umpire on several occasions during the match because of the level of her screeching.
The third and final game was locked at 10-10 before Marin went 14-10 ahead.
It was a gap that Sindhu could not bridge as the Spaniard went to 20-15 before finishing off her Indian counterpart in an engrossing encounter.
The 21-year-old Sindhu’s hard-fought silver was India’s second medal of the Rio Olympics after female wrestler Sakshi Malik claimed bronze on Wednesday.
The young shuttler united a nation as India watched on in pride as she put on a spirited display.
#SindhuForGold was the number one trending Twitter hashtag in the region and below are some of the best tweets as the action unfolded.
Loving the determination in @Pvsindhu1's eyes! #badminton
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 19, 2016
Hang in there @Pvsindhu1. Long way to go. Momentum will shift soon!! #badminton
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 19, 2016
sindhu clearly not reading the leftie shot, marin can go both ways with her forehand and mixing it well.
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) August 19, 2016
First game. She's a superstar. What a comeback!! #Sindhu
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 19, 2016
First game Sindhu. What a comeback pic.twitter.com/7uZrLkhKxw
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) August 19, 2016
Right now: Intense first set in the Women's #Badminton gold medal match between Marin #ESP and Sindhu #IND πΈπΈ pic.twitter.com/QZSUxrcIU3
— Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) August 19, 2016
At a Cricket match on a Cricket ground with Cricketers all around, watching badminton. #Sindhu
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) August 19, 2016
It's one all!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 19, 2016
@ Women's #Badminton Final for the #GOLD#Rio2016 #Olympics#ESP Carolina Marin takes second game:21-12
against#Ind PV Sindhu
Here is where Gopi's advice will be crucial. PV Sindhu needs to just take a deep breath and reset. Easier said than done though.
— Vikram Chandra (@vikramchandra) August 19, 2016
It's difficult to dislike Marin, despite that screaming. Those drop shots, that aggression...terrific#badminton #Rio2016
— Sonali Dhulap (@pillya) August 19, 2016
Indian #Hockey team in crowd to support Sindhu #Badminton #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/QWEtXwP2I5
— Rio Olympics 2016 (@India_at_Rio16) August 19, 2016
From 4-9 to 10-11 in third. Sindhu is showing great heart. Clawing her way back @HTSportsNews pic.twitter.com/3sN18f08pL
— Sukhwant Basra (@SukhwantBasra) August 19, 2016
I don't give a d--- what happens in the end. The way Sindhu came back to win the first match makes her a winner in my book...
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 19, 2016
Whatever happens, Sindhu's got THIS country watching badminton! ππ½
— RichaChadha (@RichaChadha_) August 19, 2016
Breaks not good for Sindhu.......
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 19, 2016
#Rio2016 #Badminton final:#IND PV Sindhu puts up a great fight, loses to #ESP's Carolina Marin 21-19, 12-21, 14-21 pic.twitter.com/wA3oHICGXh
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 19, 2016
LET'S NAME A STORM AFTER #Sindhu. #PVSindhu means GLORY. This silver is worth a 1000 golds. Whole India is proud of you @Pvsindhu1 #Rio2016
— Kapil Dev (@therealkapildev) August 19, 2016
Well Played #Sindhu. Entire nation is so so proud of your stupendous achievement in #Badminton #Rio2016 #Olympics! pic.twitter.com/10GMciTlPa
— Nirmal Chettri (@nirmalchettri03) August 19, 2016
You have created history Sindhu !!#PVSindhu becomes the first Indian woman to win a #Silver medal in #Olympics. pic.twitter.com/DJpKXBGULQ
— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) August 19, 2016
Sindhu becomes first Indian woman athlete to win an individual silver in Olympics.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 19, 2016
Proud of your effort Sindhu. Truly fantastic. @Pvsindhu1 #Sindhu pic.twitter.com/GaNnYl5OJk
— Rohan Bopanna (@rohanbopanna) August 19, 2016
What a game π !Congratulations @Pvsindhu1 on d Silver.Much much respect 4 ur spirited performance & sportswomanship ππΌ#PVSindhu
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) August 19, 2016