The dream of a miraculous sixth BWF World Championships medal for PV Sindhu came agonizingly close to reality in Paris, before slipping away in a tense quarterfinal clash against Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani. The tournament, held in December 2025 at the iconic venue of the previous year's Olympic Games, saw Sindhu defy expectations before her campaign concluded in heartbreak.
Sindhu's Signature Spark Against Chinese Rivalry
Entering the tournament, Sindhu's form throughout the year had made the prospect of another World Championships medal seem distant. However, true to her champion's spirit, she reignited hopes with a stunning performance in the round of 16. Facing China's Wang Zhi Yi, the world number two and one of 2025's most dominant players, Sindhu was in blistering form.
She dismantled Wang in straight games, a victory that powerfully echoed her gold-winning run from 2019. This triumph reinforced a well-established pattern in Sindhu's glorious career: she consistently elevates her game at major events, and her performances against Chinese shuttlers at the World Championships often reach an even higher level.
The Quarterfinal Battle: A Fight to the Finish
The momentum from that big win set the stage for a quarterfinal showdown against the talented Indonesian, Putri Kusuma Wardani. The match was a grueling test of endurance and skill. Sindhu dropped the first game but characteristically fought back to level the match, forcing a decisive third game.
The final game was a nail-biting affair, with both athletes pushing each other to the limit in prolonged rallies. Sindhu matched the 23-year-old Wardani's energy point for point. At a critical juncture, with the score at 16-17, the finish line was within sight for the Indian legend. However, in a cruel twist, Wardani found an extra gear.
The Indonesian strung together a crucial run of four consecutive points to seal the victory, ending Sindhu's campaign. The loss was not due to a lack of fight or major errors from Sindhu; it was ultimately a matter of fine margins and her opponent having a slight edge in stamina at the very end.
Legacy Intact, But History Denied
This quarterfinal defeat meant that a sixth World Championships medal, which would have placed Sindhu in a singular category all her own, was not to be. Her legacy at the tournament, however, remains untarnished. With five World Championships medals, including the coveted gold from 2019, PV Sindhu has already cemented her status as one of the greatest to ever grace the sport.
The 2025 chapter in Paris added another tale of her incredible resilience and ability to challenge the best, even when not considered the outright favorite. While the medal slipped away, her fighting spirit, displayed vividly against both Wang Zhi Yi and Putri Kusuma Wardani, reminded everyone why she remains a central figure in Indian badminton.
