Indian badminton star PV Sindhu suffered a heartbreaking quarter-final defeat at the Spain Masters on Friday, losing in a thrilling three-game encounter.
PV Sindhu Disappointment After Near Victory
Sindhu, tipped to win the tournament due to the absence of top players, displayed incredible grit in the final set. Down by five match points (15-20), she staged a remarkable comeback to tie the score at 20-20.
However, a couple of crucial errors at the very end handed victory to Thailand’s Supanida Katethong with a final score of 24-26, 21-17, 22-20. The intense match lasted over an hour.
Rare Display of Frustration by PV Sindhu
The normally composed PV Sindhu visibly displayed her frustration after the defeat. In a rare moment of anger, she smashed her racquet on the court, receiving a yellow card from the umpire.
This is believed to be the first time PV Sindhu has displayed such an outburst in her career.
Mixed Doubles Duo Shines: Spain Masters
Despite PV Sindhu’s exit, there was positive news for India in the mixed doubles category. Married couple N. Sikki Reddy and B. Sumeeth Reddy continued their impressive run, reaching the semi-finals with a hard-fought victory against Indonesian opponents. They will face another Indonesian pair in their next match.
Other Indian Results
Indian women’s doubles pair Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, along with men’s doubles duo Dhruv Kapila and MR Arjun, both bowed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals.
Looking Ahead for PV Sindhu
While the Spain Masters ended in disappointment, PV Sindhu will look to bounce back at the Badminton Asia Championships in China next month.
Editors pick
