Indonesia Open: PV Sindhu’s Asian Leg Ends with First-Round Exit, Focus Shifts to Paris Prep

PV Sindhu’s competitive journey before the Paris Olympics concluded with a disappointing first-round exit at the Indonesia Open. On Wednesday, Sindhu lost to Wen Chi Hsu with scores of 15-21, 21-15, 14-21 in the Super 1000 event. Her next competitive appearance will be at the Paris Olympics, requiring immediate and focused preparation.

Asian Leg Recap

Sindhu’s Asian tour consisted of three tournaments aimed at improving her rankings. She had a strong showing at the Malaysia Masters, reaching the final in Kuala Lumpur with hard-fought victories against Sim Yu Jin, Han Yue, and Busanan Ongbamrungphan. Despite leading in the decider against Wang Zhi Yi, she ultimately lost the title.

In Singapore, Sindhu faced Carolina Marin in a long-anticipated rematch. Despite having a substantial lead in the decider, she couldn’t secure the win, missing an opportunity to overcome her long-time rival, who was also dealing with a niggle.

At the Indonesia Open, Sindhu was expected to face Marin in the second round but first had to get past Wen Chi Hsu, a player she had previously defeated easily in their three past encounters. However, this time, Hsu emerged victorious in a closely contested match.

Match Breakdown

The match against Hsu was unexpected. In the first game, Hsu dominated early exchanges, leading 16-6. Sindhu managed to close the gap with a run of six straight points but couldn’t recover fully, losing 15-21.

Sindhu took the lead for the first time at 11-10 during the second game interval and secured the game 21-15, seeming to regain control.

The third game started with intense rallies, with Sindhu initially leading 9-6. However, a critical backline misjudgment allowed Hsu to take charge. Sindhu’s resistance collapsed in the final stages, and she lost the game 14-21.

Road to Paris

Sindhu will now undergo a training stint in Germany to prepare for the Paris Olympics. Despite physical fitness, inconsistencies in her game have become apparent. Known for her ability to peak during major tournaments, Sindhu will aim to harness this trait once more for Paris.

Other Indian Performances

Meanwhile, the Paris-bound duo Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa progressed to the next round with a 21-15, 21-15 win over Canada’s Jackie Dent and Crystal Lai in the women’s doubles first round.

Earlier, Lakshya Sen, Priyanshu Rajawat, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, and Sumeeth Reddy-Sikki Reddy won their first-round matches, marking a positive start for the Indian contingent.

Sindhu’s exit marks a critical moment as she refocuses on training for the Paris Olympics, hoping to overcome recent challenges and replicate her past successes on the grand stage.