PV Sindhu Exits China Open After Epic Three-Game Battle Against Chen Yufei
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu bowed out of the China Open 2026 after suffering a hard-fought defeat to China's Chen Yufei in the women's singles pre-quarterfinals on Thursday. The marathon contest lasted nearly 1 hour and 30 minutes, with Chen recovering from the brink of defeat to claim a 16-21, 22-20, 21-18 victory in front of her home crowd in Changzhou.
Sindhu looked on course for one of her biggest wins in recent years after taking the opening game and holding multiple match points in the second. However, the World No. 4 displayed remarkable composure to save the match and force a deciding game before completing an impressive comeback.
The encounter was a rematch of their recent Japan Open semifinal, where Chen had retired due to injury, handing Sindhu victory. This time, the Chinese shuttler returned stronger, avenging that loss with a resilient performance.
Sindhu Fights Back After Slow Start
Chen dominated the early stages of the opening game and established a comfortable lead before Sindhu mounted an impressive comeback. The Indian ace found her rhythm midway through the game, winning a string of consecutive points to overturn the deficit and take the first game.
Sindhu carried that momentum into the second game, opening up an early advantage and moving within touching distance of victory. However, a few unforced errors and signs of physical fatigue allowed Chen to claw her way back into the contest. Backed by a vocal home crowd, the Chinese star saved multiple match points before edging the game 22-20.
Decider Goes Down to the Wire
The third game witnessed another closely fought contest, with both players producing exceptional rallies and aggressive shot-making. Sindhu entered the mid-game interval with a narrow lead, but Chen gradually took control during the closing stages, capitalising on key moments to seal the match and advance to the quarterfinals.
Despite the defeat, Sindhu's performance drew praise for her determination and fighting spirit against one of the world's top-ranked players.
Former India coach Vimal Kumar described the contest as one of the finest matches of the season, highlighting the high quality of attacking and defensive badminton displayed by both players. He also noted that Sindhu was unfortunate not to convert her opportunities, saying a little more luck could have changed the outcome.
Although her campaign ended in the pre-quarterfinals, Sindhu's display against a top-five opponent signals encouraging form as she continues her preparations for the upcoming major international tournaments.
Comments