PV Sindhu’s campaign at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi ended in a dramatic Round of 16 defeat against China’s Wang Zhi Yi.
The Indian star fought for 88 minutes before losing 11-21, 21-15, 17-21. Wang, ranked World No. 2, overcame physical discomfort and held her nerve to reach the quarter-finals.
The defeat ended Sindhu’s perfect 8-0 record against Chinese players at the World Championships. The two-time Olympic medallist had hoped to win a sixth World Championships medal on home soil.
Sindhu started slowly but fought back strongly in the second game. She continued to challenge Wang in the decider, but the Chinese shuttler eventually secured the victory.
Her loss also ended India’s singles challenge at the tournament. Earlier, Lakshya Sen and Unnati Hooda had exited in the second round.
Despite the result, Sindhu’s performance showed her determination and improved fitness. At 31, she battled hard in front of a passionate home crowd and remained competitive against one of the world’s top players.
For Sindhu, the result was disappointing, but her fighting spirit provided a memorable performance in Delhi.