PV Sindhu Exits China Masters After Loss to World No. 1 An Se Young

Star Indian badminton player P V Sindhu faced a challenging defeat against world number one An Se Young in the quarterfinals of the China Masters Super 750 tournament held in Shenzhen on March 15, 2024. The two-time Olympic medallist lost in straight games, with scores of 14-21 and 13-21 over the course of just 38 minutes.

This match marked Sindhu’s eighth consecutive defeat to the 23-year-old Korean shuttler, demonstrating An’s dominance in their matchups. Sindhu has yet to secure a victory against An, who recently claimed gold at the Paris Games, solidifying her position at the top of the sport.

Sindhu’s performance began on a shaky note. She quickly fell behind, trailing 1-6 before managing to narrow the gap to 5-9 with a finely placed cross-court drop. Despite her efforts, An’s powerful smashes allowed her to extend her lead to 11-5 at the first interval. Sindhu made a push, closing in at 11-14, but a net error from the Indian player handed the first game to An.

In the second game, Sindhu briefly held a lead of 3-2, but An swiftly regained control, showcasing her tactical prowess. The Indian athlete attempted to intensify her play but found herself trailing 7-8. An’s superior skill set, particularly her deceptive shots, allowed her to take an 11-7 advantage at the break. Once play resumed, An quickly pulled ahead to 14-7 and maintained her lead throughout.

Although Sindhu executed some impressive front-court drops and round-the-head smashes, An consistently outmaneuvered her opponent. Ultimately, the match concluded with An securing eight match points before winning with a decisive cross-court smash, capitalizing on another error from Sindhu.

With this loss, Sindhu’s journey in the China Masters Super 750 tournament comes to an end, while An Se Young advances with her sights set on further success in the competition.