PV Sindhu's Paris Olympics Campaign Concludes with Pre-Quarterfinal Defeat

PV Sindhu's aspirations for a third Olympic medal were dashed as she exited the Paris Games following a straight-game defeat to China's He Bingjiao in the women's singles pre-quarterfinals on Thursday. The 29-year-old from Hyderabad struggled to maintain a consistent attack, losing 21-19, 21-14 in a 56-minute match, which was a rematch of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medal play-off.

Sindhu, who had previously secured silver and bronze medals at the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics respectively, topped her group to reach the knockout stage. However, Bingjiao's aggressive play, particularly her powerful forehand smashes, proved too much for Sindhu. The Chinese player landed precise smashes to score points easily, while Sindhu's lifts often fell short.

He Bingjiao's Dominant Performance

Bingjiao started strong in the opening game, quickly taking a 5-1 lead as Sindhu made defensive errors and struggled with execution. The Chinese player used flat pushes to keep Sindhu at the back of the court. Sindhu's deep returns frequently went wide or long, allowing Bingjiao to extend her lead to 8-3.

Sindhu attempted to increase her pace and control the net as rallies lengthened. However, Bingjiao punished Sindhu's short lifts with sensational shots from her forehand corner. A cross-court and down-the-line smash from Bingjiao gave her a three-point lead at the break.

Sindhu's Struggles Continue

After changing sides, Bingjiao maintained her aggressive approach while Sindhu's length remained inconsistent. The Chinese player quickly moved to a 6-2 lead, showing better anticipation and alertness at the net. Despite Sindhu scoring three consecutive points, Bingjiao kept up the pressure with two more jump smashes, leading 11-5 at the interval after Sindhu found the net.

Sindhu managed to draw level at 12-12 after Bingjiao hit into the net. However, two soft errors by Sindhu at the net were followed by a deceptive shot from Bingjiao, who moved ahead to 17-14. Although Sindhu closed the gap to 17-18, Bingjiao responded with a body smash. Sindhu then produced a smash of her own to make it 19-19.

Final Moments of the Match

Bingjiao secured one game point with an accurate on-the-line return and sealed a long rally with a forehand jump smash, letting out a roar of triumph. In the second game, Bingjiao continued her dominance as Sindhu struggled with execution. The Chinese player quickly moved to 14-8 with aggressive rallies.

A forehand cross-court and flat drive from Sindhu kept her hopes alive briefly but proved insufficient as Bingjiao extended her lead to 18-11 after another wide shot from Sindhu. The Chinese player earned seven match points and converted on her second opportunity when Sindhu hit long again.

Sindhu's inability to counter Bingjiao's relentless attack ultimately led to her early exit from the Paris Games. This defeat marks a significant setback for Sindhu, who had been aiming for another Olympic medal following her previous successes in Rio and Tokyo.