Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu crashed out of the US Open 2023 women’s singles event and she penned an emotional message post her exit.
PV Sindhu’s run in Iowa came to an end after going down 22-20, 21-13 against Gao Fang Jie of the People’s Republic of China in the quarter-finals.
Playing on the badminton courts of the Mid-America Centre, PV Sindhu, currently 12th in the BWF world badminton rankings, was playing catchup to Gao Fang Jie for most of the first game.
Despite the dominance of the Chinese shuttler, the Indian badminton player kept attacking and levelled the scores at 20-all. However, PV Sindhu’’s effort fell short as Gao Fang Jie won the final two points to take the lead.
“This loss has left a significant emotional impact on me, especially considering the challenging and demanding year I’ve had. It’s disheartening to experience a disappointing defeat after each successful tournament. However, I am determined to channel my emotions into redoubling my efforts and making the remainder of the year truly remarkable.” said PV Sindhu
Olympic medallist Sindhu appeared to be fighting hard against her Chinese opponent, ranked 36th in the world, but the Indian’s inability to win long rallies proved to be crucial in the opening game.
The second game was closely-fought early on with the lead exchanging hands several times. With the scores tied at nine-all Gao Fang Jie won five consecutive points to take a healthy lead. The Chinese badminton player kept firm control on the proceedings and pocketed the match in 49 minutes.
This was PV Sindhu’s fourth loss to Gao Fang Jie in five head-to-head meetings.
