PV Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, was knocked out of the Japan Masters 2024 after losing to Michelle Li of Canada in the pre-quarterfinals. The match, which lasted one hour and 15 minutes, ended with a scoreline of 21-17, 16-21, 17-21 in favour of Li.
PV Sindhu’s performance against Michelle Li
Sindhu started strong, winning the first game 21-17. She maintained a narrow lead throughout the game, leveraging her attacking play to edge ahead. However, Li made a remarkable comeback in the second game, seizing control of the rallies and gaining momentum to level the match at 21-16. The decider was a nail-biter, with Sindhu initially leading 4-1 and maintaining a narrow lead of 11-9 at the changeover. However, Li forced the pace, pocketing four straight points to clinch the victory.
Sindhu’s unforced errors in the final game were a significant factor in her loss. Despite her initial dominance, she struggled to maintain her momentum and adapt to Li’s aggressive play.
Tough day on the court for PV Sindhu as her journey at the Kumamoto Japan Masters Super 500 ends in the Round of 16. 🇮🇳💔
After a hard-fought three-game battle, Sindhu fell to Canada’s Michelle Li with a scoreline of 21-17, 16-21, 17-21.Proud of her fighting spirit and… pic.twitter.com/C3WG5vnxzG
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) November 14, 2024
Sindhu’s loss marked the end of India’s campaign at the Japan Masters, as she was the lone Indian in contention after the early exits of Lakshya Sen and the women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. This early exit is a disappointment for India, especially considering Sindhu’s strong start to the tournament.
