PV Sindhu exits China Masters after thrilling second-round battle

PV Sindhu, India’s two-time Olympic medallist, saw her run at the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament come to an end in the second round following a grueling three-game match against Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min on Thursday.

Despite a valiant effort, the World No.19 fell 16-21, 21-17, 21-23 in a contest that stretched over an hour and nine minutes.

Sindhu had started the tournament strong, defeating higher-ranked Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-17, 21-19 in the opening round. However, her hard-fought match against Min marked her first loss to the Singaporean in six previous meetings.

Sindhu wasn’t the only Indian player to bow out in the second round. Anupama Upadhyaya and Malvika Bansod also faced defeats in their respective matches. Anupama was overpowered by Japan's Natsuki Nidaira in a 7-21, 14-21 loss, while Malvika fell to eighth-seeded Supanida Katethong of Thailand with a decisive 9-21, 9-21 scoreline.

In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand struggled against the second-seeded Chinese duo of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning, losing 16-11, 11-21 in a match that lasted 43 minutes.

India's hopes now rest on Lakshya Sen in men’s singles, who will face Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in the second round, and the dynamic men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The defending champions and Asian Games gold medallists, returning after their Paris Olympics campaign, are set to meet Denmark’s Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Soggard in the pre-quarterfinals.

Sindhu’s match against Min was a rollercoaster for fans. The two players were neck-and-neck in the opening stages, but Min capitalized on Sindhu’s unforced errors to gain a five-point lead at the first break. Sindhu fought back with long rallies and sharp court play, narrowing the margin to 11-10. However, Min surged ahead with a strong finish to claim the first game.

Sindhu came out aggressively in the second game, taking an early 8-5 lead. Despite Min's efforts to close the gap, Sindhu’s experience helped her level the match at one game apiece.

The final game was a spectacle as both shuttlers refused to yield. Sindhu held a 13-9 lead at one point, but Min’s relentless attacking game and Sindhu’s fatigue turned the tide, allowing the Singaporean to clinch the match.