PV Sindhu Reflects on BWF World Championships Defeat and Future Goals

PV Sindhu, India's star badminton player, reflects on her recent defeat in the BWF World Championships, where she lost to China's Wang Zhi Yi. Sindhu acknowledges the challenges she faced during the match and emphasizes the need for patience and focus. Despite the disappointment of not securing a sixth medal, she is determined to learn from the experience and prepare for the upcoming Asian Games. Her exit also signifies the end of India's singles campaign at the championships. Read on to discover more about Sindhu's insights and future aspirations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 20, 2026, 23:33 IST

Sindhu Analyzes Her Loss at the BWF World Championships

In New Delhi on August 20, PV Sindhu, India's renowned badminton player, shared her thoughts following her exit from the BWF World Championships. She faced a tough match in the women's singles pre-quarterfinals against China's Wang Zhi Yi, where she acknowledged that long breaks might be part of Wang's strategy, admitting she needed to exhibit more patience during the game.

Sindhu remarked, "That’s their tactic. I was focused, but every point is crucial. Whether she takes a break or is injured, it could be part of her game style. I need to concentrate on each point and play accordingly," reflecting on her performance after the match.

The five-time World Championships medalist's journey concluded in the Round of 16, where she lost to World No. 2 Wang with scores of 11-21, 21-15, and 17-21 in a match that lasted 88 minutes at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

During the final game, Wang required medical assistance and seemed to struggle with cramps but managed to regain her composure and secure her place in the quarterfinals.

Sindhu expressed that she believed she had a chance to win, especially when the score was tied at 17-17 in the deciding game. "I felt I should have capitalized on that moment. There were long rallies, and it was a competitive match. I should have been more patient," she stated.

After a slow start, Sindhu lost the first game but rallied to win the second, forcing a decisive third game. The final game was tightly contested, with Sindhu leveling the score at 15-15 after trailing earlier. However, Wang regained the lead and ultimately clinched the match with a drop shot.

This defeat not only dashed Sindhu's hopes of securing a sixth World Championships medal but also ended her unbeaten streak against Chinese players in this tournament, having previously won all eight encounters.

Despite the disappointment, Sindhu is determined to learn from this experience and come back stronger. "It hurts to lose after so much hard work, but that's part of the game. I believe this will make me stronger, and I will learn from my mistakes. What's done is done, and now I need to focus on what’s next," she said.

Looking ahead, Sindhu is now setting her sights on the upcoming Asian Games, stating, "The next significant event is the Asian Games, so I need to relax and prepare for that."

Her exit also marked the end of India's singles campaign at the home World Championships, as earlier on the same day, Ayush Shetty was defeated by Indonesia's Alwi Farhan in the men's singles Round of 16.