Spanish badminton player and Olympic champion Carolina Marin cruised to the final of the Toyota Thailand Open on Saturday in Bangkok. The fifth seed and former world number one got better of seventh-seeded An Se Young of Korea in two games 21-19, 21-15 and won the semi-finals.
The 27-year-old ace player moved one more step closer to clinch a back-to-back title in Thailand. Prior to this, last week, she clinched the Yonex Thailand Open and Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) Super 1000 event. If she sustains, she will be the winner of three consecutive events in Bangkok.
In the previous round, Marin defeated Turkey's Neslihan Yigit 21-6, 21-15. She reached the top spot last week against top-seeded Tai Tzu-ying and continued her winning streak on Friday and Saturday.
Marin silenced 18-year-old An Se-young, who was awarded "Most Promising Player" in 2019.
Talking about her mental health and what keeps her motivated, Marin told TOI, "Sometimes it's tough for the mindset when you win a tournament just three days ago and you have to start a tournament all over again." The reigning Olympic champion had earlier criticised the food being served to players in Bangkok. She had said that it was “not appropriate food for athletes”.
Marin and other athletes are playing the tournament amid coronavirus protocols in the secured bio-bubble. Since winning the gold medal in the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, Marin has been fighting the challenges that come along with triumph. She has not been in the best of forms and injuries too have forced her to lay a bit low. Now, she aims to clinch another gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2021.
Feature Image Credit: Firspost
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