PV Sindhu expressed her disappointment after losing the Malaysia Masters final to China’s Wang Zhi Yi on Sunday. Despite taking an 11-3 lead in the deciding game, Sindhu experienced a surprising collapse, ultimately losing the match 21-16, 5-21, 16-21 in 79 minutes.
However, Sindhu remains optimistic, emphasizing the positives she gained from the tournament. “It’s sad that I didn’t get the result I had expected. I should have pulled it off, maintaining the lead (in the decider), but there were really good rallies and she (Wang) also came back,” she said. Ranked 15th in the world, Sindhu noted, “Overall, I can say that it’s been a very good match. It’s a bit disappointing, but a lot of positives to take from this match and the whole tournament as well.”
Sindhu’s first final since Madrid Masters 2023
This was Sindhu’s first final appearance since the Madrid Spain Masters in 2023, and she expressed her satisfaction with reaching the final stage. “I am happy that I at least came to the finals, I played well. These matches will definitely give me a lot of confidence, but I could have won that. It’s just not one of those days,” she added.
The Hyderabad-based shuttler, who trains at the Prakash Padukone Academy, had been sidelined for nearly six months due to a stress fracture on her left ankle before returning to the court in February last year.
PV Sindhu rues missed chances
Sindhu acknowledged her mistakes in the second game, where she managed to score only five points, admitting that she should have maintained her lead in the third game when she was ahead 13-8 and 11-3. “I think the second game was literally at some point like 16-4 or 17-4. It was a really long gap to even cover and then I continuously made mistakes and it was a bit hard to control. I gave her a huge lead,” she explained.
Reflecting on the third game, Sindhu remarked, “But the third game I was on point, I was doing well. Maybe I should have (won). When I’d taken the 13-8 lead, 11-3 lead, I should have maintained that.”
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Sindhu remains positive for the Singapore Open
Looking ahead, Sindhu plans to work closely with her coach to make necessary improvements and prepare for the upcoming Singapore Open, which begins on May 28. “I will go back and see what improvements need to be done with my coach and of course prepare for Singapore. It’s not just over with this tournament, so it’s important to get back and be prepared for the next tournament,” she emphasized.
Sindhu also highlighted the importance of staying motivated during challenging times. “It’s important that you keep pumping up, you keep pushing yourself, you keep encouraging yourself in these low times. That’s what I can do now at the moment. But it is also important to just cheer myself up and just focus and relax and prepare for the next tournament,” she concluded.
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