India’s badminton ace P.V. Sindhu bowed out of the China Masters Super 750 tournament after a straight-game loss to An Se Young, the reigning world number one and Olympic gold medallist.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, lost 14-21, 13-21 in just 38 minutes, marking her eighth consecutive defeat to the Korean star. Despite a few flashes of brilliance, including delicate cross-court drops and round-the-head smashes, Sindhu struggled to match An’s pace, deception, and relentless attacking play.
The match began with Sindhu trailing 1-6, and although she narrowed the gap briefly, An’s signature smashes and court control kept her ahead. In the second game, Sindhu led 3-2 early on but couldn’t sustain momentum as An surged ahead with a mix of finesse and power.
Sindhu’s continued struggles against top-ranked opponents raise questions about her form post-Olympics, where she exited in the opening round. With the Paris Games behind her, the focus now shifts to her preparation for upcoming tournaments and regaining consistency on the global stage.
