PV Sindhu Crashes Out of China Open After Marathon Battle Against Chen Yufei

PV Sindhu Falls to Chen Yufei in China Open Pre-Quarters After Epic Three-Game Battle

PV Sindhu’s spirited campaign at the China Open came to an end on Thursday after the Indian badminton star suffered a narrow three-game defeat to World No. 4 Chen Yufei in the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals in Changzhou.

Sindhu lost 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 in a thrilling contest that lasted one hour and 29 minutes. The former world champion looked on course to pull off another major upset after taking the opening game and earning four match points in the second. However, Chen held her nerve to save all four, force a decider and complete a remarkable comeback in front of the home crowd.

The clash was a rematch of last week’s Japan Open semifinal, where Chen had retired midway due to injury. This time, the Chinese star returned fully fit and avenged that loss with a gritty performance.

Sindhu Recovers After Slow Start

Chen made an aggressive start, opening up a 5-2 lead before extending it to 11-6 at the mid-game interval. Having struggled against Sindhu’s cross-court drops in their previous meeting, the Chinese shuttler came better prepared and controlled the early exchanges.

Sindhu gradually settled into the match, finding her rhythm with sharp attacking play and improved court coverage. She reeled off a string of points to turn the game around before sealing the opener 21-16.

The Indian continued her momentum in the second game and moved within touching distance of victory. But Chen produced her best badminton when it mattered most, saving four match points before snatching the game 22-20 to level the contest.

Chen Edges High-Quality Decider

The deciding game lived up to expectations as both players produced long rallies, brilliant defence and precise winners. Neither shuttler allowed the other to pull away, but Chen found an extra gear in the closing stages to take the final game 21-18 and book her place in the quarterfinals.

While the defeat ended Sindhu’s campaign, her performance against one of the world’s top-ranked players underlined her improving form and fighting spirit. Former India coach Vimal Kumar praised the encounter, calling it a classic that showcased the very best of the sport.

“This was a masterclass in attacking and defensive badminton, with exceptional rallies, tactical brilliance and fighting spirit from both players.” He added that matches like these highlight the beauty of badminton’s traditional 21-point scoring system and could become rarer if future scoring changes are introduced.

Despite the loss, Sindhu leaves the China Open with renewed confidence after pushing one of the tournament favourites to the limit in one of the best matches of the competition.