Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu’s wait for a much-needed title extended further as she faltered at the finish line, going down in three games to world No. 7 Wang Zhi Yi of China in the summit clash here on Sunday.
Fifth seed Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, last won the Singapore Open and Commonwealth Games gold in 2022 and finished runner-up at the Madrid Spain Masters in 2023.
The title here looked within her reach when world No. 15 Sindhu held a massive 11-3 lead in the decider but the former world champion suffered a shocking meltdown after the final change of ends to go down 21-16 5-21 16-21 in a 79-minute women's singles final.
It was her first final appearance on the BWF World Tour after more than a year.
“Overall, I can say that it’s been a very good match. It’s a bit disappointing, but a lot of positives to take from this match and the whole tournament as well,” said Sindhu ranked 15th in the world.
Sindhu was leading 11-3 at the interval in the third game but she fell into a pool of errors after the change of sides as Wang won 18 of the next 23 points to seal the trophy in her name.
The Indian showed great defence and kept putting the pressure on Wang. The rallies got tighter and fast-paced but Sindhu managed to hold an 11-9 lead at the break.
Sindhu left Wang crammed for space with her returns to move to 13-9. The angled returns, the defensive lifts and trademark smashes became more regular as Sindhu dominated the proceedings to jump to a 17-10 lead.
The Indian committed a few errors as Wang made it 16-19. However, Sindhu grabbed four game points when Wang went long and sealed it comfortably.
The second game was a forgettable affair for Sindhu, who struggled with the conditions.
In the decider, Sindhu rediscovered her aggressive self as she looked to take the shuttle early to exert pressure on her opponent. Sindhu took a sizable 11-3 lead at the interval with Wang spraying wide.
Eventually, Wang grabbed six championship points with another precise return at the backline. Sindhu saved two before going long again as Wang threw her racquet in celebration.
Follow us
