beijing, Jul 23
India’s star shuttler PV Sindhu bowed out of the BWF China Open Super 1000 after suffering a hard-fought defeat against home favourite and fourth seed Chen Yu Fei in the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals on Thursday. The gripping contest lasted more than an hour and showcased the resilience and determination of both players before Chen emerged victorious with a 16-21, 22-20, 21-18 scoreline.
Sindhu entered the tournament in excellent form after ending her long title drought by winning the Japan Open title last week. The victory had restored her confidence, and she also carried a psychological advantage over Chen after defeating the former Olympic champion in the Japan Open semifinals, where the Chinese player had retired due to injury. Expectations were high that Sindhu could continue her winning run against one of her biggest rivals.
The Indian ace began the match aggressively and dictated play in the opening game with powerful smashes, accurate placement and disciplined rallies. Her attacking approach kept Chen under constant pressure as Sindhu comfortably claimed the first game 21-16 to move within one game of a place in the quarterfinals.
Sindhu continued her dominance in the second game and looked set to wrap up the contest when she surged to a 20-16 lead. Holding four match points, the two-time Olympic medallist appeared to have complete control of the encounter. However, Chen displayed remarkable composure under pressure and staged an extraordinary comeback, winning six consecutive points to snatch the game 22-20 and level the match.
The dramatic turnaround shifted the momentum firmly in favour of the Chinese star heading into the deciding game. Despite the setback, Sindhu refused to surrender and matched Chen point for point in a tense decider. The contest remained evenly balanced until the score reached 17-17, with both players producing high-quality rallies and relentless defence.
At the crucial stage, Chen elevated her game once again, taking three successive points to earn three match points. Sindhu managed to save one but could not stop her opponent from sealing the final game 21-18 and advancing to the quarterfinals.
Although Sindhu’s impressive run in China came to an end, her performances over the past two weeks underline a return to strong form. After capturing the Japan Open title and pushing one of the world’s top players to the limit, the Indian shuttler will look to build on this momentum in the upcoming tournaments as she continues her quest for more international success.
