Only the top eight ranked players in the Destination Dubai rankings qualify for the event, and the Olympic silver medalist seemed out of the running when only ranked 16 with two events remaining in the BWF World Superseries qualifying calendar.
But 21-year-old Sindhu reproduced the form which took her to the Olympic podium, winning her first Superseries title in the Thaihot China Open last week, and finishing runner-up in the Yonex Sunrise Hong Kong Open on Sunday.
A delighted Sindhu said “It’s an honour to play in Dubai. It’s an event that I have always wanted to qualify for. My form is good and hopefully it will continue in Dubai. I’m happy that I did well the last two weeks. I’m a bit upset I didn’t win Hong Kong, but Tai played better than me.”
It was a bittersweet moment for India though as former world number one Saina Nehwal fell at the last hurdle in her attempt to come back from injury in time to qualify for Dubai. Having undergone knee surgery for an injury sustained during the Olympics, Nehwal had hoped to have enough points in reserve from good performances earlier in the year to keep her in the top eight, but her loss in the quarter finals in Hong Kong saw her surrender her place to Sindhu, finishing in ninth place.
Sindhu will face a star-studded field in the women’s singes, being joined by Olympic gold medallist Spain’s Carolina Marin and 2014 Superseries winner Tai Tzu Ying.
Tickets for the Dubai World Superseries Finals are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae. Prices start from AED 25, with those under 18 years entering for free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
