NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu produced one of her finest performances in recent months, stunning World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China in straight games to storm into the quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships on Thursday.
The 15th-seeded Indian ace, who clinched the world crown in Basel in 2019, took just 48 minutes to outclass Wang 21-19, 21-15 in the pre-quarterfinals. The victory also tilted her head-to-head record against the Chinese to 3-2. Sindhu will now face Indonesia’s World No. 9 Putri Kusuma Wardani for a place in the semifinals and a record-equalling sixth World Championships medal.
The Indonesian, however, will not be an easy opponent—she had beaten Sindhu in straight games at this year’s Sudirman Cup, though the Indian holds a win from their 2022 Asian Games clash.
Sindhu began her match aggressively, racing to an 11-6 lead with sharp smashes and precise net play. Although Wang clawed back to level 19-19, the Indian held her nerve to clinch the opener. In the second game, Sindhu once again built a commanding 11-6 cushion and, despite being stretched in a marathon 57-shot rally, wrapped up the contest with decisive attacking flair.
The triumph further extends Sindhu’s illustrious record against top Chinese shuttlers at the Worlds, having earlier defeated the likes of Wang Yihan (2013), Wang Shixian (2014), Li Xuerui (2015), Sun Yu (2017), and Chen Yufei (2017 & 2019).
India’s Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also delivered a massive upset, knocking out World No. 5 pair Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong in the mixed doubles pre-quarterfinals.
The Indian duo, who lost the opening game 19-21, bounced back strongly to seal the next two games 21-12, 21-15 in a 63-minute thriller. The spirited fightback saw them storm into the quarterfinals, keeping India’s medal hopes alive in doubles.
“We came prepared and didn’t give up even after losing the first game. We pushed each other till the very last shot, and that made the difference today,” said Tanisha after the victory.
Dhruv credited their improved mental toughness. “Earlier when we lost the first game, we would get mentally down. But today, we stayed strong and kept fighting,” he said.
The pair, who had endured inconsistent results earlier this season, including early exits at the Orleans Masters and All England Championships, now look back in form at the biggest stage.
With Sindhu’s commanding win and Dhruv–Tanisha’s remarkable upset, India’s campaign in Paris gained strong momentum, raising hopes of another medal-filled chapter at the World Championships.
