PV Sindhu rues missed opportunity after defeat in Paris Olympics 2024 Round of 16

Published at :August 2, 2024 at 2:12 PM

Modified at :August 2, 2024 at 2:12 PM

(Courtesy : Badminton Photo)

The two-time Olympic medallist also gave her best wishes to shuttler Lakshya Sen.

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu’s pursuit for a historic third Olympic medal came to an abrupt end yesterday at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Indian badminton star succumbed to a formidable Chinese opponent, He Bing Jiao, in the Round of 16.

Sindhu, seeded 10th in the tournament, faced a challenging match against the sixth-seeded He Bing Jiao. Despite her previous success against the Chinese player in the bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020, Sindhu couldn’t replicate that performance in Paris.

The match began with intense competition, with both players playing skillfully. At 19-all in the first set, a marginal call went against Sindhu, shifting the momentum in He Bing Jiao’s favour. The Chinese shuttler capitalized on this opportunity, securing the first set.

Reflecting on this crucial moment, Sindhu commented, “Maybe, if I had won the first set, it would have been different. I would have had a lot more confidence within me.”

The second game proved even more challenging for Sindhu, who struggled to find her rhythm. He Bing Jiao, capitalizing on Sindhu’s errors and the court conditions, dominated the game, ultimately clinching the match with a 21-14 victory in the second game.

This defeat marks a significant setback for Sindhu, who had entered the Olympics with a reputation as a big-tournament player. Her previous Olympic successes – silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020 – along with five World Championship medals, including gold in 2019, had set high expectations for her performance in Paris.

PV Sindhu rues missed opportunity after defeat in Paris Olympics 2024 Round of 16

The two-time Olympic medallist also gave her best wishes to shuttler Lakshya Sen.

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