India’s campaign at the Uber Cup 2026 came to a crushing end as they were handed a 0-5 whitewash by China in their must-win Group A clash on April 27.
The tie turned decisively after PV Sindhu lost a hard-fought opening singles, allowing China to seize early momentum.
Up against world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi, Sindhu battled through a tense three-game encounter but eventually fell 16-21, 21-19, 19-21. The Indian star looked in control in the decider, leading 18-12, before Wang staged a remarkable comeback to snatch victory and put India on the back foot.
India entered the contest needing a win to stay in the knockout race after a mixed group stage—going down 2-3 to Denmark before bouncing back with a 4-1 win over Ukraine. Earlier in the day, the men’s team had progressed to the Thomas Cup quarterfinals with a 5-0 sweep of Australia.
Sindhu lets advantage slip
Sindhu showed strong intent despite a slow start in the opening game, recovering from an early deficit to lead at the interval. Her attacking strokes and control at the net helped her build pressure, but Wang’s precision and composure in the closing stages saw her take the first game.
The second game saw Sindhu raise her level, dictating rallies and holding her nerve in crunch moments to draw level.
She carried that momentum into the decider, racing ahead with aggressive play and appearing set for a famous win. But Wang flipped the script with six consecutive points to level at 18-18 before closing out the match as Sindhu faltered at the finish.
China complete rout
With the early breakthrough secured, China tightened their grip on the tie. The top-ranked doubles pair of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra in straight games to extend the lead. India’s exit was confirmed soon after when Isharani Baruah lost to Chen Yu Fei, giving China an unassailable 3-0 advantage.
The remaining matches followed the same trend. Tanisha Crasto and Kavipriya Selvam stretched Zhang Shuxian and Luo Xumin but lost in three games, while Devika Sihag also went down fighting against Xu Wenjing. The 0-5 scoreline reflected China’s dominance, while India were left to rue a missed opportunity—particularly Sindhu’s near-win that could have changed the complexion of the tie.
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