'Tough decision to withdraw' - PV Sindhu updates on her injury after retiring mid-match in French Open 2023

Sindhu faced Thailand's Supanida Katethong in women's singles round of 16.

PV Sindhu said she chose to respect her body after having retired from her women's singles round of 16 match against Thailand's Supanida Katethong in the BWF French Open 2023. Sindhu, 28, retired midway through her last 16 clash after facing some issues with her left knee. She was leading the women's singles encounter 1-0 before retiring hurt. Sindhu later took to social media to update fans on her unexpected withdrawal, emphasizing the need to prioritize her well-being.

Sindhu disclosed that she had continued to play despite feeling initial uneasiness on her left knee in the opening game. She expressed that the discomfort eventually escalated, prompting her decision to retire from the game.

The two-time Olympic medallist wrote on X (former Twitter), "I retired from the game because I felt that retiring was a wise decision to take a closer look at my knee and have my physio examine it." Despite her commitment to avoiding injury timeouts in her career, Sindhu chose to respect her body and prioritize her health.

This mid-game withdrawal was a heartbreak for PV Sindhu, who had won the first game with a score of 21-18 and was level on 1-1 in the second game at the time of her exit. She had displayed an impressive performance against her opponent, employing a variety of shots, including drop shots, smashes, and net kills.

Sindhu may have sustained a knee injury when she overextended herself while returning a shot near the net from Katethong. This injury became evident as she sought medical attention and consulted with her coach, Hafiz Hashim.

The umpire even issued a warning, suggesting a potential yellow card, as she received treatment during the match. Eventually, Sindhu made the difficult decision to award Supanida Katethong a walkover, allowing her Thai opponent to advance to the quarterfinals.