India's star shuttler PV Sindhu delivered another promising performance but was ultimately halted by the sheer solidity of China's Wang Zhiyi in the semifinals of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 tournament on Saturday. The match, which lasted 52 minutes, ended with a scoreline of 21-16, 21-15 in favour of the world number two.
A Battle of Momentum Swings
The encounter in Kuala Lumpur on January 10, 2026, was a tale of two halves in both games. Sindhu, showing glimpses of her best form, managed to establish early leads. However, Wang Zhiyi, seeking revenge for her loss to the Indian at the Paris World Championships last year, demonstrated why she is ranked so highly. The Chinese shuttler methodically worked her way back each time, using her defensive prowess and tactical intelligence to turn the tide.
The first game was a tight affair until the mid-game interval. Sindhu played simple, effective badminton to stay ahead initially. At 10-10, the match was evenly poised. Wang managed to take a slender one-point lead into the break and, crucially, maintained her composure afterward. A series of precise clears and tight net shots allowed her to pull away to a 17-14 lead. Despite a brilliant hold-and-flick backhand from Sindhu to make it 16-19, Wang closed out the opener with a cleverly disguised half-smash and a soft error from the Indian.
The Second Game Collapse
Knowing that winning the first game was her best chance to apply scoreboard pressure, Sindhu started the second game with sharp intent. She constructed rallies beautifully and unleashed some stunning winners, including a fierce round-the-head forehand that earned her a quiet fist pump. Her efforts paid off as she built a commanding 11-6 lead at the interval, playing what was arguably her best spell of the match.
The script flipped dramatically after the break. Wang Zhiyi emerged with renewed intensity and aggression. Sindhu, conversely, was plagued by uncharacteristic errors. Three consecutive loose shots from the Indian allowed Wang to draw level at 12-12. The momentum had decisively shifted. To compound Sindhu's frustration, she was then hit by a double dose of cruel luck. On two separate points where she seemed in control, Wang found the tape of the net, and the shuttle trickled over dead on Sindhu's side. These fortunate net cords helped Wang extend her lead to 19-14, effectively dousing any remaining fight from the two-time Olympic medallist.
Analysis and Takeaways
The 52-minute duration of the match is a more accurate indicator of the contest than the straight-games scoreline. It underscores how hard Wang was made to work for her victory. For Sindhu, the match highlighted both progress and persistent challenges. Her ability to construct leads against a top opponent is a positive sign. However, the inability to sustain that pressure and close out games, coupled with a costly patch of errors, remains an area for improvement.
Wang Zhiyi's victory also levelled the head-to-head record between the two players at 3-3. While the result is a disappointment for Indian fans, Sindhu's performance in Kuala Lumpur this week suggests she is moving in the right direction as she builds towards future challenges on the BWF World Tour.
