PV Sindhu’s pursuit of a third consecutive Olympic medal ended unexpectedly at the Paris Games. The Indian shuttler lost in straight games to China’s sixth-ranked He Bing Jiao in the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals on Thursday. Despite her efforts, the 29-year-old from Hyderabad struggled to maintain a steady attack during the 56-minute round of 16 match.
Bing Jiao, who had previously competed against Sindhu in the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal match, won with scores of 21-19 and 21-14. Sindhu, a silver medalist from Rio de Janeiro and a bronze medalist from Tokyo, had topped her group to reach the knockout stage.
A quick rundown of the match as PV Sindhu gets ousted
Bingjiao delivered an impressive attacking performance, with her powerful forehand particularly troubling Sindhu. The Chinese player executed precise smashes to score points effortlessly.
On the other hand, Sindhu struggled with short lifts. Unable to match her opponent’s pace, Sindhu faded after a challenging first game. Meanwhile Bingjiao avenged her Tokyo defeat.In the first game, Bingjiao quickly went 5-1 ahead due to Sindhu’s defensive errors and execution mistakes.
The Chinese player utilized flat pushes to keep Sindhu on the defensive, who made errors with her deep returns going wide and long. The score soon extended to 8-3 in Bingjiao’s favor.Sindhu increased the pace and took control at the net as rallies extended.
Despite Bingjiao’s powerful forehand shots and a three-point lead at the break, Sindhu leveled the score at 12-12. After some errors, Bingjiao regained the lead, with the game tied at 19-19 before Bingjiao secured a game point.
After the sides changed, Bingjiao’s attack intensified while Sindhu’s shots fell short, allowing Bingjiao to lead 6-2. Despite Sindhu’s brief rally, Bingjiao extended her lead with aggressive play, reaching 14-8. Bingjiao converted her second match point after Sindhu hit long, winning 21-11.
Ticket Checker Swapnil Kusale wins Olympics bronze in shooting
Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale has received widespread praise from Indian sports figures for his outstanding performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Famous cricketer Hardik Pandya lauded Indian shooter Swapnil Kusale on winning Olympics medal in a congratulatory Instagram story.
Kusale earned a bronze medal in the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, scoring 451.4. This achievement is historic as it marks India’s first Olympic medal in this shooting event. Kusale’s remarkable performance has set a new benchmark and is celebrated as a significant milestone in Indian shooting sports.
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