Giant-Killer PV Sindhu Loses in World Badminton Quarters, Misses Hattrick of Bronze

P.V. Sindhu fought really hard but Korea's Sung Ji Hyun was just too good at the end. The 20-year-old Indian, looking for a historic hattrick of bronze medals in world badminton championship, went down 17-21, 21-19, 16-21 to eight-seeded Hyun in a marathon quarterfinal match in Jakarta on Friday. Sindhu had won bronze medals in Guangzhou (2013) and Copenhagen (2014).

On Thursday, Sindhu had scored one of the biggest wins of her career when she stunned London Olympics champion Li Xuerui of China to enter the quarterfinal. She upset third seed Li 21-17, 14-21, 21-17 in a pulsating contest lasting 50 minutes

It was an amazing exhibition of badminton as the match lasted 82 minutes and produced stunning rallies where both players produced high quality play. Sindhu, the 11th seed, was slow to start but looked solid in the second. Sung, more in control of herself and the court, deserved to win as she mixed aggression and intelligence to outsmart Sindhu.

Sung will play top seed and world No. 1 Carolina Marin in the semifinals. Carolina of Spain defeated seventh seed Chinese Wang Shixian 21-17, 21-19 earlier on Friday.

Sung and Sindhu went neck and neck till 13-13 when the Korean girl broke away for a seven-point lead. Sindhu made a comeback of sort, winning four points on-the-trot, but Sung closed the game in 18 minutes.

Sung was clever with her drop shots and Sindhu made some costly errors with her judgement. Shorter rallies suited the Korean and Sung controlled the court better to often seal winners with overhead smashes.

The second game was better contested. It was marked by long rallies with both players stretching themselves for every point. It really made for some excellent badminton as Sindhu was egged on by courtside coaches Pullela Gopichand and Madhumita Bisht.

The fact that the players were again locked 10-10 showed the intensity of the match. The Korean shifted gears to build a three-point lead only to see Sindhu recover and take the lead at 14-13. Considering the long rallies, the chair umpire allowed water breaks as both players returned to the court to bring the best out of each other.

With score level at 15-15, there was little margin for error and Sindhu played lovely drop shots to snatch the lead 17-15. But the Korean refused to give in. A brilliant overhead crosscourt smash made it 17-16, but an error by the Korean gave Sindhu a two-point cushion again (18-16).

Sindhu stretched the lead to 20-17, but once again Sung fought back to win two points (20-19). Sindhu had the last laugh winning another long rally and sending Sung flat on the floor with a winner (21-19). It was a great comeback by Sindhu as she held her nerve in a game that lasted 36 minutes.

Exhausting rallies marked the deciding game. Sung kept her composure, attacked and counter-attacked well. She played some unbelievable returns and took a 10-6 lead. Sindhu was tiring quickly and made crucial errors, including sending serves into the net. Sung crossed over leading 11-7 and the match was already an hour and seven minutes old.

Sung only got better while Sindhu showed flashes of brilliance that were not enough. The Korean built a crucial five-point lead (15-10) as she opened up the court well and scored the winners. Sindhu missed easy returns and looked flustered at times. Even then, every point was well contested. Sindhu reduced the lead (12-16).

A couple of lucky points at the net helped Sindhu reduce the lead (16-18) but Sung emerged better on the big points, once again built a handy and match-winning lead (20-16) and succeeded in shutting out Sindhu 21-16 in what was 82 minutes of gruelling and top class badminton.

P.V. Sindhu fought really hard but Korea's Sung Ji Hyun was just too good at the end. The 20-year-old Indian, looking for a historic hattrick of bronze medals in world badminton championship, went down 17-21, 21-19, 16-21 to eight-seeded Hyun in a marathon quarterfinal match in Jakarta on Friday. Sindhu had won bronze medals in Guangzhou (2013) and Copenhagen (2014).

It was an amazing exhibition of badminton as the match lasted 82 minutes and produced stunning rallies where both players produced high quality play. Sindhu, the 11^th seed, was slow to start but looked solid in the second. Sung, more in control of herself and the court, deserved to win as she mixed aggression and intelligence to outsmart Sindhu.

Sung will play top seed and world No. 1 Carolina Marin in the semifinals. Carolina of Spain defeated seventh seed Chinese Wang Shixian 21-17, 21-19 earlier on Friday.

Sung and Sindhu went neck and neck till 13-13 when the Korean girl broke away for a seven-point lead. Sindhu made a comeback of sort, winning four points on-the-trot, but Sung closed the game in 18 minutes.

Sung was clever with her drop shots and Sindhu made some costly errors with her judgement. Shorter rallies suited the Korean and Sung controlled the court better to often seal winners with overhead smashes.

The second game was better contested. It was marked by long rallies with both players stretching themselves for every point. It really made for some excellent badminton as Sindhu was egged on by courtside coaches Pullela Gopichand and Madhumita Bisht.

The fact that the players were again locked 10-10 showed the intensity of the match. The Korean shifted gears to build a three-point lead only to see Sindhu recover and take the lead at 14-13. Considering the long rallies, the chair umpire allowed water breaks as both players returned to the court to bring the best out of each other.

With score level at 15-15, there was little margin for error and Sindhu played lovely drop shots to snatch the lead 17-15. But the Korean refused to give in. A brilliant overhead crosscourt smash made it 17-16, but an error by the Korean gave Sindhu a two-point cushion again (18-16).

Sindhu stretched the lead to 20-17, but once again Sung fought back to win two points (20-19). Sindhu had the last laugh winning another long rally and sending Sung flat on the floor with a winner (21-19). It was a great comeback by Sindhu as she held her nerve in a game that lasted 36 minutes.

Exhausting rallies marked the deciding game. Sung kept her composure, attacked and counter-attacked well. She played some unbelievable returns and took a 10-6 lead. Sindhu was tiring quickly and made crucial errors, including sending serves into the net. Sung crossed over leading 11-7 and the match was already an hour and seven minutes old.

Sung only got better while Sindhu showed flashes of brilliance that were not enough. The Korean built a crucial five-point lead (15-10) as she opened up the court well and scored the winners. Sindhu missed easy returns and looked flustered at times. Even then, every point was well contested. Sindhu reduced the lead (12-16).

A couple of lucky points at the net helped Sindhu reduce the lead (16-18) but Sung emerged better on the big points, once again built a handy and match-winning lead (20-16) and succeeded in shutting out Sindhu 21-16 in what was 82 minutes of gruelling and top class badminton.