PV Sindhu (Credit: Twitter)
Despite her battling efforts, Sindhu fell to reigning Olympic champion Yu Fei of China 24-22 17-21 18-21 in a quarterfinal tie that lasted one hour and 32-minutes.
India’s P V Sindhu produced a gallant battle earlier than marginally falling brief towards reigning Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China in an epic quarterfinal on the French Open Super 750 badminton match on Friday.
On a comeback path from a 4-month-lengthy damage layoff, Sindhu gave ample show of her strokeplay and bodily health throughout a marathon one hour and 32-minute battle earlier than settling for a 24-22 17-21 18-21 loss to the second seed and defending champion Chen in a riveting final eight battle right here.
The final time Sindhu had crushed the world no. 2 Chen was en route to her 2019 World Championships gold. Since then the Indian has misplaced to the Chinese twice in the final two conferences though she held a greater 6-5 head-to-head report towards her opponent coming into the essential tie.
Playing a prime-class opponent after fairly a while, Sindhu didn’t present any signal of the left knee damage that had pushed her out of the circuit since October final 12 months.
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There was nothing to separate the 2 as Sindhu produced an attacking show and likewise moved properly on the courtroom however a gentle Chen Yu Fei managed to hold her nostril forward in the top.
Sindhu and Chen performed some excruciating rallies with the Chinese utilizing excessive tosses and lifts to hold the Indian on the again. But Sindhu tried to step up the tempo. The outcome was each moved collectively until 6-6.
But Sindhu then dumped one on the web and despatched one other one extensive whereas Chen unleashed a cross-courtroom return to transfer forward. The Chinese had 5 factors on the break when Sindhu made a misjudgement on the backline.
An unperturbed Sindhu, nonetheless, slowly made her manner again to first claw again at 15-15 to take a lead with a 5-level run.
While the Chinese saved concentrating on Sindhu’s physique, the Indian managed to collect factors with some delectable drops, cross-courtroom winners and a few exact returns at her opponent’s forehand nook.
From 19-19, the 2 moved neck-and-neck until 22-22 earlier than Sindhu transformed a 3rd recreation level alternative by unleashing an excellent forehand cross-courtroom drop.
Sindhu made a assured 4-2 lead after the change of sides with Chen sending the shuttle lengthy twice.
However, the Chinese turned the tables as Sindhu went extensive twice and Chen produced a backhand drop and a cross-courtroom smash to lead 7-4.
The Indian drew parity once more at 7-7 however Chen pulled away to 11-9 with a disguised return after Sindhu sprayed into nets twice. Sindhu saved the strain on her opponent and restored parity at 13-13 with one other pleasant drop.
However, a uncommon service error by Sindhu gave Chen a chance and she or he unleashed a straight smash and a physique blow to transfer forward. With Sindhu making too many unforced errors, Chen pulled away and roared again in the competition after the Indian sprayed one other one to the online.
While the clock crossed the hour’s mark, the duo saved preventing.
In the decider, Chen produced two elegant photographs — a drop and a late cross web — to open up a 6-3 lead however a barrage of smashes helped Sindhu claw again at 7-7.
The duo continued to check one another’s psychological resolve throughout the tight rallies and was inseparable until 11-11. Chen then grabbed 5 straight factors however Sindhu managed to break the run of factors with one other beautiful drop at 13-16.
But Chen was quickly up 19-15 with a smash. Sindhu once more introduced the equation down to two factors at 17-19 however missed a backhand web drop to hand over three match factors to Chen, who sealed it when one other physique return was despatched extensive by Sindhu.
Star Indian doubles gamers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty cruised into the quarterfinals with a straight-recreation victory towards the Malaysian pair of Man Wei Chong and Kai Woo Tee on Thursday evening.
Satwik and Chirag, who’ve been on a dream run with successive runner-up finishes in the 2023 China Open, Malaysia Open Super 1000 and India Open Super 750 this season to emerge because the world No. 1 doubles pair, defeated the Malaysian duo 21-13, 21-12 in a spherical-of-16 conflict.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
