PV Sindhu Falls to Wang Zhi Yi in World Championships Thriller

PV Sindhu’s bid for an unprecedented sixth medal at the Badminton World Championships ended in the round of 16 as China’s Wang Zhi Yi won a tense three-game contest, 21-11, 15-21, 21-17. The decisive game turned at 16-16, when Wang received a medical timeout after falling to the court and clutching her thigh.

Sindhu, appearing at her 11th World Championships, had entered the match with a 3-5 head-to-head record against Wang. She recovered strongly after losing the opening game and built leads in the decider, but Wang claimed the final stretch to move through.

Wang takes opener before Sindhu forces decider

The match began evenly, with the players sharing the first 14 points. At 8-7, Wang won a gruelling 41-shot rally with a precise forecourt drop, before Sindhu answered with a slow drop from the back line.

Wang gradually moved away in the opening game. Sindhu’s errors contributed to the gap as Wang established a 14-9 advantage and later went 18-10 ahead. Sindhu landed two cross-court smashes to remain in the game, but Wang earned nine game points after another net error from the Indian. Sindhu then lost a net exchange as Wang took the first game 21-11.

Sindhu responded with purpose in the second game, opening a 3-0 lead. A 47-shot rally at 5-3 ended with Sindhu sending a lift long, but she immediately produced a cross-court return that left Wang stranded. Although errors allowed Wang to stay close, Sindhu took a three-point advantage into the interval.

Wang levelled matters with three quick points after errors from Sindhu, then narrowed the margin to 12-13 with a smash. Sindhu answered with a forehand cross-court smash and another winner after a long rally to make it 15-13. Wang’s two powerful smashes brought the score back to 15-15, but two wide shots from Wang helped Sindhu regain control at 17-15.

A push near the net moved Sindhu within two points of the game, and Wang then lifted long to give her five game points. Wang could not negotiate a tight net dribble on the following point, allowing Sindhu to level the match at one game each, 21-15.

Medical timeout comes at 16-16 in deciding game

Sindhu carried that momentum into the decider, leading 4-1 and then 7-4. Her attacking play put Wang under pressure, but missed sidelines, a smash into the net and a shot sent long enabled Wang to close to 7-8. Wang made it 9-9 with a smash, while Sindhu replied with two powerful smashes before a long lift left the score at 10-10.

A misjudgement by Wang gave Sindhu an 11-10 lead at the interval, and the Indian extended it to 13-10. Wang fought back through a body smash and errors from Sindhu, winning five successive points to take the lead. Sindhu halted that run with a down-the-line smash to make it 15-15, then moved ahead 16-15 after Wang went long.

Sindhu hit wide on the next point as Wang chased the shuttle, fell flat on the court and clutched her thigh. Wang returned following a medical timeout with the score level at 16-16. Sindhu later said she had tried to remain focused through the interruption.

“I don’t know if she’s injured or not, maybe that is her strategy or her way of doing it. You never know,” Sindhu said after the match. “Maybe that’s her gameplay, but I had to be very focused and very patient and, you know, focus on every point.”

After Sindhu’s net error was offset by Wang misjudging the sideline, Wang struck a smash to lead 18-17. A 54-shot rally followed, ending with Sindhu hitting long. Wang was again clutching her right thigh, but Sindhu then put a smash into the net to give Wang three match points. Wang sealed the match on the next point.

Sindhu said the final phase proved decisive. “I think the last three points just changed the game, is what I felt. I should have been a little patient,” she said.