PV Sindhu bows out of Asian Championships, losing to He Bingjiao in quarters
Indian campaign at the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, China, came to an end with PV Sindhu’s exit on Friday
PV Sindhu’s run at the Badminton Asia Championships came to an end after a hard-fought loss to He Bingjiao of China in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Sindhu was her aggressive best against her Chinese opponent on Friday, winning the opening game. But the 20-year-old Bingjiao showed why she is considered a hot prospect for the future by wresting the momentum of the match away from the Indian.
Read more | IPL 2017: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils live updates, score
Sindhu has, of late, developed this uncanny ability to step up the game when required. The Indian did that with a late rally in the third game. However, Bingjiao was up to the challenge.
Sindhu lost 21-15, 14-21, 22-24 as curtains fell on the Indian campaign at Wuhan.
Sindhu had very little resistance from Bingjiao in the opening game of their match, winning it 21-15. The Chinese player came out with intent in the second game and took a 5-2 lead at the start and built on it to win it 21-14 .
The Indian rallied back late in the third game (from 16-19 down), but, after a see-saw affair -- including exchange of match-points -- Bingjiao sealed the game and match to book a date with Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the semis.
Sindhu carried India’s hope in the tournament after her teammates, including Saina Nehwal, fell early.
The Rio Olympics silver medallist ran through Japan’s Aya Ohori in straight games in the second-round of the tournament on Thursday. Sindhu had beaten Dinar Dyah Ayustine of Indonesia 21-8, 21-18 in the opening round on Wednesday, taking just 31 minutes at the Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium.
Nothing to write home about
This year’s Asian Championships was a forgettable outing for the Indian contingent, including Sindhu, as she was expected to win a medal.
In the men’s segment, Ajay Jayaram , who had stunned Chinese fifth seed Tian Houwei in the first round, lost to Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Jen-hao 19-21, 10-21 on Thursday. The World No 13 Indian put up a good fight in the opening game but folded rather meekly to the Taipei shuttlers power strokes in the second game.
On Wednesday, Saina Nehwal, who has two bronze medals from the continent’s marquee event, bowed out, beaten by Japan’s Sayaka Sato 21-19, 16-21, 18-21 in one hour and eight minutes.
The Opening day was the most disastrous for Indians.
In the mixed doubles category, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Sikki Reddy went down to top seeds Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen 15-21, 21-14, 16-21 in 50 minutes.
Sikki, partnering Ashwinin Ponnappa, also lost in the doubles competition to South Koreans Chae Yoo Jung and Kim So Yeong 20-22, 16-21 in 37 minutes.
The second Indian pair in women’s doubles -- J Meghana and Poorvisha S Ram -- crashed out against South Korean second seeds Jung Kyung Eun and Shin Seung Chan 11-21, 16-21.
The men’s doubles pair of Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy also suffered a loss in the opening round. They went down 9-21, 18-21 to Chinese fifth seeded combine of Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan in 28 minutes.