PV Sindhu’s challenge at the Paris Olympics 2024 went out in the Round of 16 after a rather tough game against well-known rival He Bing Jiao
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu bowed out of Paris Olympics 2024 after facing defeat at the hands of China’s He Bing Jiao in the women’s singles Round of 16. She lost in a match played on August 1, losing 19-21, 14-21. That was a tough day for Indian badminton fans as the girl from Hyderabad came back home without any medals.
A Tough Match
PV Sindhu, who became the first woman from India to win consecutive Olympic medals by winning silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, couldn’t cope with the relentless pressure that her opponent unleashed. This bout was expected to be intense as the head-to-head record of the meetings between these two shuttlers showed a trend of closely fought matches. Going into this bout, PV Sindhu head-to-head record against Bing Jiao stood at 11-9 in favour of the Chinese shuttler.
Early Challenges and Competitive Spirit
Right from the word go, PV Sindhu was always on the back foot. He Bing Jiao, a seasoned campaigner who won bronze medals at the World Championships in 2019 and 2021, was in dominant form. On most days, the Chinese shuttler rarely gave Sindhu a chance to get into rhythm by racing to the lead.
In the first game, PV Sindhu showed her fighting spirit, coming back from an 8-11 deficit to level at 19-all. However, with her experience, Bing Jiao won the final two points to seal the game 21-19. Though Sindhu showed so much grit, this first-game outcome dictated what would be witnessed in the rest of the match.
Second Game Remains a Struggle
The second game turned out to be no different for PV Sindhu. He Bing Jiao continued unlashed, going into the mid-game break with a six-point lead. Nothing came easy to Sindhu hereafter as well as the Chinese player continued to implement her plans to perfection.
As the game progressed, PV Sindhu struggled to make a comeback. Bing Jiao’s accuracy and athleticism kept Sindhu on her back foot the whole time as she won the second game 21-14 decisively. The tie ended in 56 minutes with Sindhu unable to find a single answer for the third time on the trot against her rival.
A Disappointing Day for Indian Badminton
Sindhu’s exit has brought gloom over Indian badminton, all the more because the Hyderabadi was the last hope left in the women’s draw. A little while before that, others, such as H.S. Prannoy and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, had also bowed out of the contest. This left Lakshya Sen as the solitary Indian challenger in contention in the men’s singles, who is scheduled to play the 12th-seeded Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals.
Most people took a close interest in Sindhu’s journey through the tournament, all the more so after her sterling performances in the previous Olympics. The disappointment of not being able to get any further adds to the weight of expectations placed upon her as a star athlete representing India on the global stage.
Reflections on Sindhu’s Legacy
Despite this setback, PV Sindhu has been a trendsetter when it comes to Indian sports through her success in badminton. Her win of a silver medal at Rio 2016 and a bronze at Tokyo 2020 are milestones of incredible magnitudes which inspire several young athletes in the country. She has been a beacon of dedication toward her sport and performs at really high levels to be one of the most visible faces of Indian sports.
While returning from Paris, PV Sindhu will definitely introspect into the happenings and the challenges posed. Her career was marked with a never-give-up attitude; hence, the fans still have a lot of hope that she bounces back stronger during future tournaments. There is absolutely no doubt that with the skills and determination she has, she will be a force to contend with in world badminton.
Way Forward
Now, with the Paris Olympics in full swing, all hopes rest on Lakshya Sen’s quest to take the mantle of Indian badminton forward. The defeat was a bit disheartening for PV Sindhu, but her legacy lives and continues to be an example in the sporting world. Indian fans look up to future competitions where Sindhu will try to redefine her status as one of the world’s best women badminton players.
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