In a shocking turn of events at the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Vietnam’s Thi Linh Phuong Nguyen in the women’s singles second round. The match, played on Thursday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, ended with Nguyen clinching a thrilling three-game victory of 21-17, 14-21, 21-19.
Sindhu, who received a first-round bye as the top seed, appeared rusty after a long injury layoff. Nguyen, ranked 53rd in the world, capitalized on every opportunity, displaying remarkable composure under pressure. The first game saw Sindhu struggle with her net play, allowing Nguyen to take an early lead that she never relinquished.
The second game belonged to Sindhu, who found her rhythm with powerful smashes and deft drops. She dominated the net exchanges and forced errors from her opponent, leveling the score at one game apiece. However, in the decisive third game, Nguyen’s defensive prowess and counter-attacking brilliance proved too much for the Indian star.
At 20-19 in the final game, Sindhu had a match point but sent a shuttle wide, handing the victory to the Vietnamese shuttler. This upset marks Nguyen’s biggest career win and sends Sindhu packing early from her home tournament.
The loss raises questions about Sindhu’s form ahead of the Paris Olympics. Her coach and mentors will now focus on rebuilding confidence and fine-tuning strategies. Meanwhile, Nguyen advances to face either China’s Han Yue or Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the quarterfinals.
Indian fans, who turned out in large numbers to support their hero, left the arena disappointed but hopeful for a strong comeback. Sindhu’s journey in 2024 has been turbulent, and this defeat serves as a wake-up call.