Asian Games 2023 badminton: PV Sindhu’s campaign ends in quarter-finals

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu’s run at the Asian Games 2023 badminton tournament ended after she was ousted from the women’s singles event in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China on Thursday.

However, later in the day, HS Prannoy and the doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy advanced to the semi-finals and assured India medals in the men’s singles and doubles events, respectively.

PV Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, lost to local player He Bingjiao 21-16, 21-12 in the quarter-finals, ending India’s quest for a medal in the badminton women’s events at the Asian Games 2023. Asmita Chaliha, the other Indian woman in Hangzhou, was knocked out in the round of 32.

World No. PV Sindhu defeated He Bingjiao, currently fifth in the badminton rankings, at the Tokyo Olympics to win the bronze medal. Before their match in Hangzhou, the Indian had defeated the Chinese shuttler in four of their last five matches. 

But the story was different at the Asian Games 2023. He Bingjiao, a two-time world championships medallist, started on a commanding note in the quarter-final. The Chinese shuttler raced to an early lead at 9-5, by dominating net play and also forcing PV Sindhu into committing errors.

Towards the end of the first game, Sindhu picked up some momentum to win three points in a row and bring the score to within two points (16-18), but Bingjiao sealed the game 21-16.

The Indian badminton player was outplayed by Bingjiao’s pace and energy, who also had the home support cheering every point.

In the second game, He Bingjiao raced to an early lead again at 5-1 before PV Sindhu drew level at 8-8. Just when it looked like the Indian was back in the game, He Bingjiao upped the ante and won the next 13 points to Sindhu’s four to take the second game 21-12. The match lasted 47 minutes. 

PV Sindhu won a silver medal in the women’s singles at Jakarta 2018, which remains India’s joint-best result at the Asian Games. India are yet to pick up a badminton gold medal at the continental event.

Singles and doubles medals assured

Meanwhile, HS Prannoy fought through a back injury to defeat Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia 21-16, 21-23, 22-20 in the men’s singles quarter-finals. Jia is a former All England champion.

The Indian shuttler pocketed the first game comfortably but squandered two match points in the second as the contest went to a decider. The Malaysian led most of the third game but Prannoy, despite his injury, managed to stay on Jia’s tail.

In what was a grandstand finish, HS Prannoy saved two match points of his own before closing out the affair to confirm his spot in the top four.

HS Prannoy, who won a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships in Copenhagen earlier this year, confirmed India’s second badminton medal in Hangzhou. He also becomes the second Indian to win a men’s singles medal at the Asian Games after Syed Modi, who secured a bronze at New Delhi 1982.

Prannoy will be up against local favourite Li Shifeng in the semi-finals on Friday. Shifeng is the reigning All England champion and is currently world No. 8 in men’s singles. 

India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty also confirmed a medal in the men’s doubles. The Indian duo breezed past Singapore's Nge Joo Jie-Johann Prajogo in the quarter-finals with a 21-7, 21-9 scoreline.

This will be India’s second-ever medal in men’s doubles at the continental meet after Leroy Francis D'Sa and Pradeep Gandhe’s bronze medal finish at New Delhi 1982.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty face Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists, in the semi-finals on Friday.