SINDHU LOSES IN 1ST ROUND, KIRAN UPSETS WORLD NO.9

It’s been a topsyturvy year for PV Sindhu. The Indian badminton queen returned to the circuit after a seven-month injury break with three successive first round exits on the BWF World Tour. The next tournament — Swiss Open — saw her improve a shade with a second-round exit.

Amid the disappointing results, she split with her Korean coach Park Ta-sang who guided her to the Tokyo Olympics bronze. Things started looking better for the 27-year-old who reached her first final since the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, losing the summit clash in Spain Masters. Far from her best, she fought hard to reach the Malaysia Masters semis last week.

Just when it looked like Sindhu was getting back her rhythm, the double Olympic medallist suffered her fourth first round exit of the season on Wednesday, losing to Canada’s Michelle Li 8-21, 21-18, 18-21 in the $420,000 Thailand Open in Bangkok, in just over an hour at the Indoor Stadium Huamark. It was only Sindhu’s third loss to the Canadian in 12 meetings – first since 2014. The world No.13 will hope to fare better in next week’s Singapore Open, where she will be defending her crown.

Saina Nehwal won her first match since January, beating Canadian qualifier Wen Yu Zhang 21-13, 21-7. The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist faces an uphill task next up against Chinese third seed He Bingjiao.

Kiran springs a surprise

Kiran George sprang the day’s biggest surprise when the qualifier stunned world No. 9 Chinese and former All England champion Shi Yuqi, who was third seed here, 21-18, 22-20 in 47 minutes. Weng beat former world No.1 Kidambi Srikanth 21-8, 16-21, 21-14.

Lakshya Sen beat Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese Taipei 21-23, 21-15, 21-15.