PV Sindhu delivered an outstanding performance at the BWF World Championships in Paris, securing a spot in the quarterfinals after a convincing win over China’s Wang Zhi Yi. The Indian mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also made it to the quarterfinals after a remarkable comeback. These wins came after the disappointment of HS Prannoy’s narrow loss, giving the Indian camp something to celebrate.
Sindhu’s Commanding Victory
Sindhu, who had struggled in the earlier rounds, was back to her best on Thursday. The 2019 World Champion controlled the match from start to finish, defeating second seed Wang Zhi Yi 21-19, 21-15 in just 48 minutes. This impressive victory sent Sindhu to the women’s singles quarterfinals, marking one of her best performances in recent times.
In the first game, Sindhu led 11-6 at the mid-game break. Wang made a comeback and surged ahead with a 19-17 lead. However, Sindhu showed her trademark resilience, winning four consecutive points to clinch the first game. The second game saw Sindhu take control early, maintaining a 11-6 lead at the break and finishing the game 21-15 despite a strong recovery attempt from Wang. A marathon 57-shot rally tested Sindhu’s stamina, but she regained control with aggressive attacking play.
Upcoming Challenge
Sindhu will face World No. 9 Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia in the quarterfinals. Sindhu has faced Wardani four times before, winning twice. A victory would see Sindhu earn her sixth World Championships medal, equaling a historic record.
Sindhu’s Mindset
Sindhu spoke after her match, stating, “When I stepped onto the court, she was like any other player to me. I knew it was not going to be easy. I wanted to give my 100%.” She also mentioned that while Wang is a great athlete, her focus was purely on consistency and controlling the shuttle. Sindhu extended her undefeated record against Chinese players at the World Championships to 8-0 with this win.
Mixed Doubles Success
In the mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto came back strong after losing the first game. They dominated the second game and carried the momentum into the decider, ultimately securing a 19-21, 21-12, 21-15 win over Hong Kong’s fifth-seeded Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet. This victory set up a high-stakes quarterfinal clash against Malaysia’s fourth seeds Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei.
Tanisha’s Reflections
Tanisha spoke about the duo’s growth, saying, “We had a rough run a couple of months back. I think we are building together, step by step. We’re getting there. Really happy with the way we played today.” She added, “We didn’t give up at any point in the match. Even after losing the first game, we didn’t let it get to us. We fought back even harder in the second and third.”
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