NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medalist Indian shuttler PV Sindhu faced a disappointing exit in the women's singles quarterfinals at the Asian Games, succumbing to a straight-game defeat against China's He Bingjiao. In a match that lasted just 47 minutes, Sindhu, currently ranked 15th in the world, struggled against the fifth-ranked Bingjiao, losing with scores of 16-21, 12-21.
This loss marked a significant disappointment for Sindhu, who had previously defeated Bingjiao in straight games to clinch the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. However, the Chinese player avenged that defeat on her home turf, denying Sindhu the opportunity to improve upon her previous Asian Games performances, where she had won bronze and silver medals in 2014 and 2018, respectively.
The first game of the match saw a competitive start as both players shared points until it was tied at 6-6. However, Bingjiao then pulled ahead with a 9-5 lead. Sindhu faced difficulties with her court coverage, and Bingjiao capitalised on this, utilising accurate placements and powerful smashes to secure the first game comfortably in 23 minutes.
Sindhu's struggles continued into the second game as Bingjiao took an early 5-1 lead. Sindhu's returns were frequently short, allowing Bingjiao to exploit these opportunities with precise smashes. Although Sindhu initially showed some fight by narrowing the gap to 8-9 with four consecutive points, Bingjiao regained control of the game, surging to a 12-8 lead.
From that point onwards, Sindhu seemed to lose her momentum, and Bingjiao swiftly closed out the second game and the match. This defeat was undoubtedly a disappointment for Sindhu, who had hoped to make a strong showing at the Asian Games.
(With PTI inputs)
