China Open: PV Sindhu’s Gritty Fight Ends in Pre-Quarterfinal Defeat to Chen Yufei

PV Sindhu’s China Open Campaign Ends After Marathon Three-Game Loss to Chen Yufei

PV Sindhu’s impressive run at the China Open came to a heartbreaking end on Thursday as the former world champion suffered a hard-fought defeat against World No. 4 Chen Yufei in the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals in Changzhou.

Sindhu went down 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 in a gripping contest that lasted 1 hour and 29 minutes. The Indian shuttler looked set to register consecutive wins over top-five opponents for the first time since 2019, but Chen staged a remarkable comeback after saving four match points in the second game.

The encounter was a rematch of last week’s Japan Open semifinal, where Chen had retired midway due to injury. This time, the Olympic champion was fully fit and produced a determined display to avenge that defeat.

Sindhu Starts Strong, Chen Fights Back

The match began with Chen taking early control, racing to a 5-2 lead before extending her advantage to 11-6 at the mid-game interval. Having learned from her previous meeting with Sindhu, the Chinese star neutralised the Indian’s trademark cross-court drop shots and dictated the early rallies.

Sindhu, however, showed tremendous resilience. She gradually found her rhythm, reduced the deficit with aggressive attacking play and a series of precise winners, before taking control to clinch the opening game 21-16.

The momentum remained with Sindhu in the second game as she created multiple match-point opportunities. But Chen displayed remarkable composure under pressure, saving four match points to edge the game 22-20 and force a decider.

Decider Lives Up to the Billing

The third game turned into another intense battle, with both players exchanging long rallies and spectacular winners. Sindhu fought until the very end, but Chen maintained her composure in the closing stages to seal the deciding game 21-18 and book her place in the quarterfinals.

Despite the defeat, Sindhu’s performance was widely praised for its intensity, determination and high-quality shot-making in one of the standout matches of the tournament.

Vimal Kumar Hails the Classic Encounter

Former India coach Vimal Kumar described the contest as a showcase of world-class badminton.

“This was a masterclass in attacking and defensive badminton, with exceptional rallies, tactical brilliance and fighting spirit from both players.”

He added that matches of such quality highlight the excitement created by the traditional 21-point scoring format, which is set to undergo changes in the future.

Although Sindhu bowed out before the quarterfinals, her spirited display against one of the world’s best players offers encouraging signs as she continues her preparations for the upcoming major tournaments.