After losing to Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min in a fierce three-game women’s singles match, PV Sindhu’s participation in the China Masters Super 750 badminton competition ended in the second round.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic winner, lost to Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min in a fierce three-game women’s singles match on Thursday, ending her campaign in the second round of the China Masters Super 750 badminton competition. After defeating the top-seeded Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-17 21-19 in the first round, world No. 19 Sindhu put up a strong fight but lost to Min 16-21 21-17 21-23 in an hour and nine minutes. The two remaining Indian women’s singles players, Anupama Upadhyaya and Malvika Bansod, were eliminated in the second round, meaning it was over for them as well.
Eight-seeded Supanida Katethong of Thailand crushed Malvika 9-21 9-21, while Anupama lost 7-21 14-21 to Natsuki Nidaira of Japan.
Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, the second-seeded Chinese combination, were too strong for Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, the women’s doubles team.
Currently ranked eighth in the BWF World Tour rankings, the world number 18 India team lost 16-11 11-21 to their Chinese opponents in a 43-minute second round encounter.
The Indian singles task now rests on Lakshya Sen, who later in the day will play Rasmus Gemke of Denmark in the men’s second round.
Later in the day, Lakshya Sen, who will face Rasmus Gemke of Denmark in a men’s second round match, will take on the Indian singles challenge.
The reigning champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who made a comeback after a hiatus after the Paris Olympics, will also compete.
Later on Thursday, the Indian team that won the gold medal at the Asian Games will play Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Soggard of Denmark in the pre-quarterfinals.
Sindhu suffered her first defeat against her Singaporean opponent in six meetings on Thursday.Min and Sindhu were tied until the first six points, but the Singaporean improved her game and took advantage of a few unforced mistakes made by her opponent to lead 11-6 at the first break.
But with some extended rallies and brilliant court play, Sindhu didn’t give up and managed to fight her way back, winning four games in a row and cutting the deficit to 11–10. The two shuttlers engaged in a close battle until 16 points, at which point Min improved and won five straight points to win the opening match.In the second game, Min gradually cut into Sindhu’s early 8–5 lead as the Indian started out on the offensive. However, the Indian maintained her composure and used her experience to score four points in a row from 17 to tie the score.
Because neither shuttler was in the mood to give the other an inch, the spectators were treated to a spectacular show during the decider. A resolute Min didn’t give up even though Sindhu had a 13–9 lead at one point. She played excellent attacking and took advantage of a tired Sindhu to win the game.
