Fuzhou China Open 2019: P.V. Sindhu crashes out in the first round

It was a disappointing day for Indian shuttler’s as the 2019 World Champion, PV Sindhu crashed out in the first round of the Super 750 Fuzhou China Open played at Haxia Olympic Sport Center on Tuesday.

PV Sindhu suffered a shocking loss to World number 42, Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei in three gruelling sets by 13-21, 21-18, 19-21. 

It was a great start for Pai who took a 3-0 lead. Sindhu came back strongly to level the scores at 4-4. Pai played with aggression and maintained 11-5 lead at the interval. 

After the interval, the Chinese Taipei player moved to a 12-8 lead and took eight points in succession to take a 20-8 lead. Sindhu saved five game points before Pai won the first game 21-13. 

It was a much better start from Sindhu in the second game as the 24-year old opened a 7-4 lead. At the interval, the Indian led 11-8. After the break though, Sindhu continued with her aggressive style of play and won the second set 21-18 despite Pai stiff challenge. 

The deciding game saw a brilliant start by Pai who raced towards a 11-3 lead at the interval. After the interval, Sindhu took nine points in succession to make comeback into the match, but Pai had a 15-12 lead. 

Sindhu fought back strongly to take six points in succession to take a 18-15 lead. Pai showed great fighting spirit to take four points to seal the match. 

In men’s, HS Prannoy lost to Rasmus Gemke of Denmark in two straight sets by 17-21, 18-21. 

There was happy news for Indian badminton fans as the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj RankiReddy and Chirag Shetty defeated Malaysian pair of Philip and Ryan Chew in two straight sets 21-9, 21-15 to move into the second round. 

They will now take on Hiryouki Endo and Yuta Watanabe of Japan in the next round. 

The mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa defeated Canada’s Joshua Hurbulrt-Yu and Josephine Wu 21-19, 21-19 to move into the second round. 

They will now take on fifth seeded Korean pair of Seo Seung Jae and Chae YuJung. 

In the women’s doubles, Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy were blown away by Li Wen Mei and Zheng Yu of China in two straight sets, 9-21, 8-21.

Saina Nehwal, Sai Praneeth will start their campaign tomorrow. 

Cover image credits: DNA India