New Delhi: Star Indian shuttler P.V. Sindhu cruised into the quarterfinals of the China Masters badminton tournament with an impressive straight-game win over sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand on Thursday. The double Olympic medallist needed just 41 minutes to outplay the world No. 6, clinching a 21-15, 21-15 victory. With this win, Sindhu, ranked 14th in the world, improved her head-to-head record against Chochuwong to 6-5. She will now face the winner of the match between top seed An Se Young of Korea and Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in the last-eight clash.
Reflecting on her performance, Sindhu expressed satisfaction at her sharp start and focused approach. “It was very important for me to stay alert from the beginning and give my 100 percent. Pornpawee is a top player, and when I played her in the Indonesia Open, it was a tough match. After winning the first game today, I made sure to stay even more alert in the second,” she said.
Sindhu noted that the points were closely contested, making it crucial for her to stay ahead. “Every point counts. I’m happy to be on the winning side and to have given my best. Straight-game wins give you confidence, but you must also prepare for long matches and stay quick on your feet,” she added.
She also highlighted the challenge of playing in drift conditions caused by strong air-conditioning. “Drift is always there at tournaments, but controlling your shots is the key — though it can be difficult at times,” Sindhu said.
The Indian star credited her steady progress to her collaboration with women’s singles coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, the former Indonesian men’s singles coach. “He is a very good coach, and we knew from the start that it would take time. We have coordinated well and figured out what changes were needed. He gives his best efforts, and as an athlete, it’s my duty to do the same,” Sindhu remarked.
Meanwhile, later in the day, India’s eighth-seeded men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are set to face Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin in their round-of-16 encounter.
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