PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy Bow Out As India’s Badminton Asia Championship Run Ends

Ningbo (China): Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy suffered defeats in the pre-quarterfinals of their respective events at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, on Thursday, bringing India’s challenge in the tournament to a close.

Two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu, aiming to regain peak form before the Paris Olympics, fought valiantly for over an hour but fell short against China’s sixth seed Han Yue 18-21, 21-13, 17-21. This marked Sindhu’s first loss to Yue, against whom she held a previously flawless 5-0 record.

The match was a tale of two halves for Sindhu. She started strong in the first game, leading by a comfortable margin before Yue clawed her way back with Sindhu succumbing to unforced errors. A rejuvenated Sindhu dominated the second game with her powerful smashes and controlled rallies. However, she couldn’t maintain momentum in the decider, allowing Yue to dictate play and secure the victory.

Seventh seed Prannoy’s campaign ended in disappointment as he was defeated by unseeded Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in a one-sided contest. Prannoy struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match, eventually succumbing 18-21, 11-21 in just 43 minutes.

In the women’s doubles category, the Indian duo of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa also exited the tournament in the pre-quarterfinals. They were overpowered by the third-seeded Japanese pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida, losing 17-21, 12-21.