Singapore Badminton Open 2024: PV Sindhu loses thriller to Carolina Marin; Treesa-Gayatri keep Indian hopes alive

India’s PV Sindhu suffered a second round exit from the Singapore Badminton Open 2024 BWF Super 750 tournament in Kallang on Thursday. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, meanwhile, advanced to the quarter-finals of women’s doubles.

PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, lost to world No. 3 Carolina Marin of Spain 13-21, 21-11, 22-20 after a three-game thriller in one hour and eight minutes.

This was Sindhu’s sixth consecutive loss against Marin. The Indian badminton player last won against her Spanish rival in the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Open 2018. The two shuttlers famously faced each other in the final of the Rio 2016 Olympics where Marin had the last laugh.

It was Sindhu, 12th in the current world badminton rankings, who began Thursday’s contest on a positive note. She asserted her dominance early and took the first game easily. However, world No. 3 Marin regained her focus and forced a decider after winning the second game.

Despite leading 18-15 at one stage, Sindhu ended up losing the third game after Marin managed to claw her way back into the thriller. After the result, Marin now leads Sindhu 12-6 in the head-to-head record.

India’s leading men’s singles player HS Prannoy was also eliminated from the Singapore Open in the second round. Prannoy, ranked 10th in the badminton rankings, lost to world No. 11 Kenta Nishimoto of Japan 21-13, 14-21, 21-15 in 78 minutes

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, however, kept the Indian challenge alive in Singapore after advancing to the quarter-finals.

The Indian pair upset second seeds and reigning All England champions Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee of the Republic of Korea 21-9, 14-21, 21-15 in 59 minutes.

Treesa-Gayatri, 30th in the world rankings, will face Olympic bronze medallists Kim So Yeong and Kong Hee Yong of South Korea in the quarter-finals on Friday.