2024 Paris Olympics, badminton: India's PV Sindhu bows out
What's the story
Indian women's singles badminton ace PV Sindhu has been ousted from the round of 16 of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Sindhu was beaten by He Bingjiao of China in straight games.
Sindhu, who had beaten Bingjiao for the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, wasn't at her best tonight.
Bingjiao, placed ninth in the BWF Rankings, won the clash, 21-19, 21-14.
Here's more.
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9-12 win-loss record in this duel for Sindhu
This was the 21st meeting between the pair. Sindhu faced her 12th defeat in this rivalry. Before this, they met at the Asian Games in 2023. Bingjiao prevailed 21-16, 21-12, ousting the Indian in the quarter-finals.
Match
How did the match pan out?
Bingjiao started well and was off to an 8-3 lead. However, Sindhu stayed in the contest and pulled the strings to 8-11 at the mid-game interval.
Both players took the game to the distance before Bingjiao won 21-19.
The second game saw Bingjiao gain early advantage as she raced to an 11-5 scoreline.
She maintained her composure thereafter and didn't allow Sindhu a comeback.
Sindhu
Sindhu fails to become a three-time Olympic medalist
Earlier, Sindhu finished atop Group M in badminton women's singles at the Paris Olympics. She beat Maldives' FN Abdul Razzaq before downing Kristin Kuuba in 34 minutes.
Sindhu could have become the first-ever Indian athlete to win three individual Olympic medals. Sindhu won bronze and silver medals at the 2020 Tokyo and 2016 Rio Olympics, respectively.
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3rd defeat for Sindhu at the Olympics
Sindhu played her 15th match at the Olympics. This was just her third defeat. Meanwhile, Bingjiao, who is aiming to win her maiden medal at the Olympics, has raced to a 7-8 win-loss record in the competition.