P V Sindhu's Journey at Malaysia Open Ends with Semifinal Loss to Wang Zhiyi

Sindhu's Malaysia Open Campaign Concludes

Indian badminton star P V Sindhu's remarkable journey in the Malaysia Open Super 1000 came to a halt on Saturday, as she faced a straight-game defeat against China's Wang Zhiyi in the women's singles semifinals.

The two-time Olympic champion struggled to maintain her composure against the world number two, resulting in a loss with scores of 16-21, 15-21, marked by numerous unforced errors.

This tournament marked Sindhu's return after a foot injury sidelined her since October, and she initially held an 11-6 advantage in the second game before faltering.

With this defeat, India's participation in the tournament also came to an end.

Sindhu started strong, showcasing her skills with powerful shots and effective reach, taking an early lead of 5-2 with her signature cross-court smashes.

However, Wang's clever play allowed her to equalize, and despite Sindhu's brief lead at 9-7, Wang regained control to lead at the interval.

Both players faced challenges with their shot lengths after the break, with the score tied at 13-13 and several missed opportunities.

Wang intensified her attack from a 15-14 position, applying pressure on Sindhu with a mix of aggressive shots and well-placed lifts, eventually taking the first game.

In the second game, Sindhu fell behind early due to unforced errors but quickly regrouped to take a 6-3 lead.

Wang responded strongly, and despite Sindhu's efforts to dominate the mid-game, she allowed Wang to catch up and take the lead.

A series of errors from Sindhu, including missed shots, led to Wang earning five match points, and the match concluded when Sindhu pushed another shot wide, securing Wang's spot in the final.