New Delhi, May 29 (H.S.): India’s star shuttler PV Sindhu saw her campaign at the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament come to an end on Friday after a quarterfinal defeat. World number one An Se-young defeated Sindhu in straight games, 21-17, 21-14, to secure her place in the semifinals.

The two-time Olympic medalist attempted to apply pressure with aggressive play at various stages of the match, but An Se-young’s superior control, rapid movement, and composure in crucial points made the contest one-sided.

With this defeat, Sindhu’s losing streak against An Se-young has now extended to nine consecutive matches. Across these encounters, Sindhu has managed to win only one game against the Korean player, which came at the 2023 Badminton Asia Championships.

Sindhu began the match on an aggressive note, using smashes and quick returns to control rallies. However, by the mid-game interval of the first game, she trailed 7-11. She later staged a strong comeback to narrow the gap to 13-14.

Nevertheless, An Se-young’s dominance at the net and her ability to withstand pressure helped her regain control. Sindhu continued to fight until 17-19, but a few unforced errors proved costly, allowing An Se-young to clinch the opening game.

In the second game, Sindhu made a poor start as An Se-young surged to a 6-0 lead. The Indian shuttler attempted to reduce the deficit, but the Korean maintained her dominance through precise shot-making and excellent court coverage.

Sindhu briefly revived her challenge, narrowing the score to 12-14, but crucial errors at key moments once again tilted the match in An Se-young’s favor. The Korean star soon extended her lead to 18-13, leaving Sindhu unable to mount a comeback.

An Se-young sealed the match in 48 minutes on her second match point, booking her place in the semifinals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar