Wang downs Sindhu to break Indian hearts at badminton worlds

Wang Zhi Yi of China stunned Indian star P.V. Sindhu in a grueling third-round match at the Badminton World Championships on Thursday, advancing to the quarterfinals despite suffering from severe cramps during the decisive set. The victory came at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, where the home crowd had hoped for a breakthrough from Sindhu, the nation’s top badminton player. Wang secured the win with a scoreline of 21-11, 15-21, 21-17, overcoming physical challenges and emotional pressure to deliver a memorable performance. The match took a dramatic turn in the third game, which was tied at 16-16 when Wang suddenly slipped and winced in visible discomfort. She paused briefly for treatment, raising concerns among spectators and commentators alike. However, she quickly regained composure and pushed through the pain to clinch the final points. Her resilience was evident as she collapsed onto the court in relief and joy after sealing the match. Wang acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter, describing Sindhu as a “very strong opponent” with “very fast attacks.” She credited her game plan for the success, expressing pride in her performance under challenging circumstances. When asked about the cramps, Wang emphasized mental toughness, stating, “That moment I just told myself to keep going. Never give up, that’s it.” Sindhu, meanwhile, offered a cryptic response regarding Wang’s apparent distress. She speculated whether the cramps were part of the Chinese player’s strategy or simply a result of the intense competition. “I don’t know if she was injured or not,” Sindhu remarked. “Maybe that’s her strategy or her way of doing it. You never know, maybe that’s her gameplay.” Other top players continued their campaigns successfully. South Korea’s An Se-young, the world number one, defeated Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in straight sets, 21-16, 21-10, in a swift 43-minute match. Despite earlier withdrawing from the Japan Open due to a foot injury, An appeared to have fully recovered, citing the supportive crowd as a key factor in her performance. “I am very happy,” she said. “The crowd was supporting me and that gave me energy and keeps me going.” Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, the defending champion, remained undefeated as she edged out South Korea’s Sim Yu-jin with a score of 21-17, 21-10. Yamaguchi aims to retain her title, having previously claimed the world crown in Paris. Meanwhile, Japanese player Nozomi Okuhara advanced past Malaysia’s Ishika Jaiswal in a tightly contested three-set match. In men’s singles, India’s Ayush Shetty saw his impressive run come to an end with a 21-19, 21-11 loss to Indonesia’s Ali Farhan. Shetty had earlier shocked the field by defeating defending champion Shi Yuqi of China in the opening rounds. However, Farhan, seeded 11th, showcased superior skill and experience to eliminate the Indian qualifier. Other notable results included Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen defeating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka in straight sets, while American teenager Garret Tan suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn. Vitidsarn, ranked second in the world, dominated the young American in a match that lasted just 36 minutes, ending Tan’s hopes of making a mark in the tournament. As the competition progresses, attention will shift toward the quarterfinal matchups, where both Wang and An are expected to feature prominently. With the tournament reaching its critical stage, fans around the world await further developments as the best players battle for supremacy on the global stage.