Ace Indian shuttler P. V. Sindhu’s spirited run at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 ended in the semifinals with a straight-game loss to world number two Wang Zhiyi of China.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, struggled with unforced errors and went down 16-21, 15-21 on Saturday, bringing curtains on India’s campaign in the season-opening tournament.
Playing her first event after recovering from a foot injury that sidelined her since October, Sindhu showed glimpses of her trademark aggression. She raced to early leads with sharp cross-court smashes and pushed Wang into corners with powerful rallies. However, Wang’s composure and deft net play turned the tide at crucial moments.
In the opening game, Sindhu led 9-7 but faltered at the net, allowing Wang to seize control. From 15-14, the Chinese shuttler unleashed relentless attacks to close out the game. The second game saw Sindhu regroup, building an 11-6 advantage at the break. Yet, Wang clawed back with precision, levelling at 13-13 before surging ahead. Sindhu’s errors at the backline and net handed Wang five match points, and the contest ended when Sindhu pushed wide.
Reflecting on the match, Sindhu admitted to missed opportunities. “At 11-6, maybe I should have taken a couple of points there. Even though I was leading, small errors made the difference,” she said.
