Malaysia Masters badminton 2022: PV Sindhu loses to Tai Tzu Ying; HS Prannoy in semis
This was PV Sindhu’s seventh straight loss to Tai Tzu Ying. HS Prannoy, meanwhile, beat Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan in straight games.
Former world champion PV Sindhu was knocked out of the Malaysia Masters 2022 after losing to Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Tai Tzu Ying in her women’s singles quarter-finals at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
PV Sindhu, seventh in the badminton world rankings, lost to world No. 2 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei 21-13, 12-21, 21-12 in 55 minutes. This was PV Sindhu’s seventh straight loss to Tai Tzu Ying and 17th defeat in 22 matches.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, had lost to Tai Tzu Ying in the Tokyo 2020 semi-finals and also at the Malaysia Open quarter-finals last week.
Despite engaging in long rallies, PV Sindhu found it difficult to break Tai Tzu Ying’s defence and trailed 11-9 at the first interval.
The Indian badminton player found herself at the receiving end for the rest of the game as Tai Tzu Ying, with a good mix of backhand shots and smashes, took the 1-0 lead in the match.
PV Sindhu was quicker on her feet in the second game and raced to an 11-4 lead. Tai Tzu Ying did mount a mid-game comeback but an early cushion helped PV Sindhu take the match into the third game.
Both shuttlers brought their A-game into the decider. However, after losing two challenges, PV Sindhu, leading for the most part before the break, lost rhythm and conceded points in quick succession.
Tai Tzu Ying then capitalised on the opening and sailed into the semi-finals of the BWF Super 500 badminton tournament.
In men’s singles, HS Prannoy, searching for his first BWF title in five years, beat Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan 25-23, 22-20 to storm into the semi-finals.
The Indian, ranked 19th, saved a game point in the opener and two game points after the change of ends against the world No. 14 Japanese to script an impressive comeback.
HS Prannoy, India’s only remaining challenge at the meet, will now take on world No. 13 Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong for a place in Sunday’s final.
In men’s singles, HS Prannoy, searching for his first BWF title in five years, beat Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan 25-23, 22-20 to storm into the semi-finals.
The Indian, ranked 19th, saved a game point in the opener and two game points after the change of ends against the world No. 14 Japanese to script an impressive comeback.
HS Prannoy, India’s only remaining challenge at the meet, will now take on world No. 13 Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong for a place in Sunday’s final.