PV Sindhu’s impressive run at the China Open came to an end after she lost a close three-game match to World No. 4 Chen Yufei on Thursday in Changzhou.
Chen won the match 21-16, 20-22, 21-18 after a hard-fought contest that lasted one hour and 29 minutes.
Sindhu Started Strong
The match was a rematch of their Japan Open semifinal played less than a week ago. In that match, Chen Yufei had retired due to an injury.
This time, the Chinese star made a strong start and took an early lead. She went into the mid-game break of the first game with an 11-6 advantage.
However, Sindhu fought back brilliantly with aggressive play and won the opening game 21-16.
Chen Yufei Makes a Comeback
Sindhu looked set to win the match in the second game and had four match points.
But Chen Yufei kept her composure, saved all four match points and won the second game 22-20 to level the match.
A slight injury concern for Sindhu also appeared to affect her momentum as the home crowd strongly supported Chen.
Deciding Game Went Down to the Wire
The final game was another exciting battle, with both players producing excellent rallies and attacking shots.
In the end, Chen Yufei held her nerve and won the deciding game 21-18, taking revenge for her loss at the Japan Open.
Match Earns High Praise
Former Indian badminton coach Vimal Kumar praised both players for their performance.
He described the match as a masterclass in attacking and defensive badminton, highlighting the long rallies, smart tactics and fighting spirit shown by both players.
He also said matches like this show why the traditional 21-point scoring system has produced some of the greatest contests in badminton.
Although Sindhu’s campaign ended in the pre-quarterfinals, her recent performances have shown strong form and fighting spirit against some of the world’s top-ranked players.
