PV Sindhu falls short as India crash out of Uber Cup after 0-5 rout by China

India’s campaign at the Uber Cup 2026 ended in disappointment as they were blanked 0-5 by China in their decisive Group A clash on April 27, with PV Sindhu’s narrow defeat proving the turning point.

Facing world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi, Sindhu fought hard but fell short in a gripping three-game contest, going down 16-21, 21-19, 19-21 after letting a strong lead slip in the decider. Her loss handed China early control of the tie and left India chasing the contest from the outset.

India had entered the match needing a win to stay in contention after a mixed group stage—losing 2-3 to hosts Denmark, beating Ukraine 4-1, and watching the men’s team storm into the Thomas Cup quarterfinals with a 5-0 win over Australia earlier in the day.

Sindhu’s fight goes in vain

Sindhu showed glimpses of her best form despite an early deficit in the opening game, recovering from 4-7 to lead 11-9 at the interval. Her attacking play and control at the net helped her stretch the lead, but Wang’s composure and precision saw her claw back and close out the game.

The Indian star responded strongly in the second, racing to a 9-4 lead and holding her nerve in the closing stages to level the match.

She looked set to seal the contest in the decider, surging to an 18-12 advantage with aggressive, high-tempo badminton. However, Wang produced a stunning comeback, reeling off six straight points to draw level before edging past Sindhu in the closing moments.

China dominate the tie

Once Sindhu’s match slipped away, China tightened their grip. The world No. 1 doubles pair of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning outclassed Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra in straight games to double the lead.

India’s exit was sealed when Isharani Baruah went down to Chen Yu Fei in the second singles, giving China an unassailable 3-0 advantage.

With the tie decided, the remaining matches followed a similar script. Tanisha Crasto and Kavipriya Selvam pushed Zhang Shuxian and Luo Xumin but lost in three games, while Devika Sihag also went down fighting against Xu Wenjing.

The 0-5 scoreline underlined China’s dominance, while India were left to rue missed opportunities—especially in Sindhu’s match, which could have altered the complexion of the tie.