PV Sindhu, India’s badminton star, showcased her resilience and determination at the French Open Super 750 tournament, overcoming a first-game setback to defeat Beiwen Zhang of the USA in the women’s singles quarterfinals. However, Kidambi Srikanth’s hopes of advancing were dashed as he suffered a disappointing round-of-16 loss to Guang Zu of China.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, displayed her fighting spirit after losing the opening game 13-21. She regrouped and dominated the second game 21-10, showcasing her aggressive play and precise returns. In the decider, Sindhu maintained her momentum, securing a 21-14 victory and booking her place in the quarterfinals.
The Indian ace will now face either Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei of China or Line Christophersen of Denmark, a formidable challenge that will test her mettle as she aims for a third Olympic medal in Paris.
Meanwhile, Srikanth, who had previously defeated Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, faced a tough opponent in Guang Zu. Despite a strong start, Srikanth’s errors proved costly, and he eventually lost 21-19 12-21 20-22 in a grueling 78-minute battle.
In the women’s singles match, Sindhu initially struggled with Zhang’s defensive prowess and committed unforced errors. However, she regained her composure in the second game, dictating the rallies and forcing Zhang into mistakes. In the decider, Sindhu’s precise returns and over-the-head smashes proved too much for her opponent.
Srikanth, on the other hand, started well against Guang Zu but his errors allowed the Chinese player to level the scores. In the second game, Guang Zu took control, forcing Srikanth into errors and sealing the game. In the third game, Srikanth fought back from a deficit but ultimately succumbed to unforced errors, ending his hopes of advancing.
