Sindhu Exits Early at All England Championships
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New Delhi: Whether the aftermath of the Paris Olympics was still affecting her performance or if it was the right hamstring that required protection with multiple kinesiology tapes, PV Sindhu appeared to be a diminished version of her competitive self during the All England badminton championships in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old failed to meet expectations for a significant advancement in this esteemed tournament, exiting in the first round after being unable to withstand the rising momentum of Korea’s Kim Ga-eun. Sindhu lost the match with scores of 21-19, 13-21, 13-21 over the course of an hour.
Currently ranked a modest world No. 16, Sindhu's ranking reflects her challenges throughout 2024 and into the new year. She began the year by reaching the quarterfinals at the India Open in Delhi but subsequently lost in the first round of the Indonesia Masters and withdrew from the Asia mixed team event due to her hamstring issue. Kim, aged 27, holds a world ranking of No. 21 and entered the match wearing a knee brace.
In their only previous encounter in 2019, Sindhu had emerged victorious. Initially, when she led 20-12 in the first game, it appeared she was in command. However, Kim mounted a remarkable comeback, saving seven game points and forcing Sindhu to move across the court while effectively utilizing her forehand cross-court drops. Ultimately, it was an unforced error by Kim that allowed Sindhu to secure the first game.
In the second game, playing from the less advantageous side, both players committed a series of errors, and Sindhu quickly fell behind. Kim took a 7-2 lead, shifting from the long rallies of the first game to shorter, more dynamic exchanges. Sindhu struggled to penetrate Kim's defense, which was adeptly transformed into strategic placements.
Sindhu managed to rally to 9-10, briefly igniting hopes for a comeback. However, a lengthy 42-shot rally, which the Korean player won, showcased her strong defense before she executed a deep shot that surpassed a fatigued Sindhu's forehand. Although Sindhu leveled the score at 12-all due to her opponent's mistakes, she struggled to respond effectively to Kim's targeted attacks on her backhand. Her inability to reach several shots indicated that her fitness was not at an optimal level.
The final set quickly deteriorated for Sindhu as Kim found her rhythm. Whether through short rallies, precise flicks, or clever cross-court shots aimed at Sindhu's backhand, Kim consistently found success. From a score of 13-19, the Korean surged ahead, accumulating points with ease. "One point, one point," urged her Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama from the sidelines at 12-17. Although Sindhu managed to save one match point, she appeared to lack the energy to continue fighting.
In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand triumphed over Shuo Yun Sung and Chien Hui Yu from Chinese Taipei with scores of 21-17 and 21-13, advancing to the last 16. Meanwhile, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde progressed to the second round of mixed doubles by defeating Chinese Taipei's Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan with scores of 21-10, 17-21, and 24-22.
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