Who won the womens singles gold medal at the World Badminton Championships 2017?

Introduction / Context:
This question evaluates your knowledge of international badminton, specifically the womens singles event at the World Badminton Championships 2017. That tournament produced a famous final which involved a top Indian player and drew a lot of attention. Remembering the actual gold medal winner, and not just the name of the popular finalist, is crucial for answering this question correctly in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The event is the World Badminton Championships held in 2017.
• The category is womens singles.
• The options list high profile womens singles players from different countries, including India, Spain, Japan, and China.
• Only one of these players won the gold medal at that specific championship.

Concept / Approach:
The final of the World Badminton Championships 2017 in womens singles was played between P V Sindhu of India and Nozomi Okuhara of Japan. It was a thrilling, long three game match. Although many Indian fans remember Sindhu's heroic effort, Nozomi Okuhara eventually won the match and claimed the gold medal, leaving Sindhu with the silver. Therefore, when asked who won the gold, you must choose Nozomi Okuhara rather than the popular Indian finalist.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the event correctly as the World Badminton Championships 2017 and the category as womens singles.Step 2: Recall that the final was between P V Sindhu and Nozomi Okuhara and that it was a close, physically demanding match.Step 3: Remember that Okuhara edged out Sindhu in the final and secured the gold medal, while Sindhu received the silver.Step 4: Select Nozomi Okuhara from the options and eliminate the others, who either did not reach the final or did not win that particular title.

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Saina Nehwal is a former world number one and Olympic medallist but did not win the womens singles gold at the 2017 World Championships.
• Carolina Marin of Spain has multiple world titles, but she was not the 2017 womens singles champion.
• P V Sindhu reached the final and won the silver medal, so she is closely associated with the event but is not the gold medallist.
• Li Xuerui is an Olympic champion from China, yet she did not win the 2017 world womens singles title.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students confuse the names of finalists with the names of champions, especially when they strongly support a particular player. Because P V Sindhu is very popular in India, some candidates instinctively choose her name when they see the year 2017 and the words world and womens singles. Another pitfall is mixing up different years and tournaments, such as the Olympics and the World Championships. Careful attention to the exact year and event helps you avoid this mistake.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Nozomi Okuhara, who defeated P V Sindhu in the final to win the womens singles gold medal at the World Badminton Championships 2017.