Indian badminton star PV Sindhu secured a spot in the women's singles semifinals of the prestigious Malaysian Open Super 1000 tournament on Friday, but her progression came under unfortunate circumstances. Her opponent, Japan's Akane Yamaguchi, was forced to retire hurt after losing the first game 11-21 in Bukit Jalil.
Yamaguchi's Injury Halts Quarterfinal Clash
The highly anticipated quarterfinal match was cut short when Yamaguchi decided not to risk aggravating a persistent right peroneal tendon injury she has been battling since 2023. This decision handed Sindhu a walkover into the last four of the tournament. While the win advances her, Sindhu was denied a full match to build rhythm.
Sindhu's Next Challenge: Wang Zhi Yi
Sindhu now sets her sights on a formidable opponent in the semifinals. She will face second seed Wang Zhi Yi of China, who earned her place with a straight-games victory (21-17, 21-18) over Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani. The head-to-head record favours the Indian shuttler slightly, with Sindhu holding a 2-1 win-loss record against the Chinese player. This semifinal clash promises to be a thrilling encounter.
In the other half of the women's draw, top seeds also progressed comfortably. World No. 1 An Se Young of South Korea demolished Denmark's Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt 21-8, 21-9. Meanwhile, China's Chen Yu Fei overpowered Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon with a 21-13, 21-14 win.
Heartbreak for Satwik and Chirag in Men's Doubles
The day, however, brought disappointment for India in the men's doubles category. The star pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty crashed out in the quarterfinals, suffering a defeat to Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. The Indian duo lost the match 10-21, 21-23 in a tense battle.
The defeat was particularly painful as Satwik and Chirag had a golden opportunity to force a decider. They held a commanding 18-14 lead in the second game but could not close it out. The Indonesian pair staged a remarkable comeback, drawing level at 19-19. The Indians showed grit by saving two match points at 20-19 and 20-21, but ultimately sent the shuttle out at 21-22 to concede the match.
"We got a sizeable lead in the second but couldn't convert it," a disappointed Chirag Shetty said after the match. This loss marks a significant halt in their Malaysian Open journey, as it is the first time in four years the Indian pair has failed to reach the semifinals of this tournament.
The focus now shifts entirely to PV Sindhu as she carries Indian hopes forward in Kuala Lumpur, aiming for a place in the final of the Super 1000 event.
