Heartbreak for PV Sindhu as Winning Streak Against China at World Championships Ends in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A long-standing record of dominance came to a dramatic end on Thursday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, as Indian badminton icon PV Sindhu suffered a stinging defeat to China’s Wang Zhi Yi in the Round of 16 at the BWF World Championships.

For over a decade, Sindhu had remained an impenetrable wall against Chinese opponents at the sport’s most prestigious events. Prior to 2024, the five-time World Championships medalist boasted an unblemished record against Chinese shuttlers at both the Olympics and the Worlds. However, following a loss to He Bingjiao in Paris, and now this latest setback against the 26-year-old Wang Zhi Yi, the mystique has faded.

In a grueling 68-minute encounter, Sindhu fell 11-21, 21-15, 17-21, marking her fourth consecutive loss to the world number three and extending her head-to-head record against the Chinese star to 3-6.

Controversy Amidst the Intensity

The match was defined by a series of long, punishing rallies and an atmosphere thick with tension. As the third game reached its climax, the drama shifted from the shuttlecock to the floor. Wang Zhi Yi collapsed twice, clutching her leg in apparent agony, requiring medical intervention while crawling toward the sidelines.

The stoppages did not sit well with the home crowd or the Indian camp. Following the match, a frustrated Sindhu questioned the legitimacy of the medical breaks. "I don’t know if she was injured or not. That was maybe her strategy of doing it. You never know. Maybe that’s her gameplay," Sindhu remarked.

Wang, however, categorically denied the accusations of gamesmanship. "I’m aware that players engage in such tactics, but I was really injured," the Chinese player stated. "During the cramp, I only thought about how to get the best from my performance."

Despite the friction, the final stages belonged to Wang. As Sindhu admitted later, her own "impatience" proved costly as she struggled to close out the points, eventually falling to an inch-perfect shot from the Chinese challenger on match point. Reflecting on the exit, a philosophical Sindhu added, "Disappointed of course. That’s how sport is. You learn, you lose a lot, you win a lot… You can’t win all the time."

A Mixed Day for Indian Badminton

While Sindhu’s departure dampened spirits, the day was not without historic achievements for the Indian contingent.

• Jolly and Gopichand Make History: The women’s doubles duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Pullela Gopichand delivered a stunning performance, defeating seventh seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi 21-16, 21-12. The win marks the first time in 11 years that an Indian women’s doubles pair has reached the quarterfinals of the World Championships.
• Satwik-Chirag Battle Through: In men’s doubles, the star duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty survived a tough test against Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Yap Roy King. Despite a slow start and trailing in both the second and third games, the Indians showed nerves of steel to secure a comeback victory, booking their spot in the final eight.
• Shetty Exits: Elsewhere, the promising Ayush Shetty saw his dream run end. After a monumental victory over world number one Shi Yu Qi in the opening round, Shetty was unable to replicate that magic, falling 19-21, 11-21 to Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan.

As the tournament progresses, the focus now turns to the remaining Indian hopefuls, even as fans continue to digest the shocking exit of PV Sindhu, who now looks toward the upcoming Asian Games to reset her season.