Paris, Aug 2: India’s badminton star PV Sindhu’s quest for a third Olympic medal came to a disappointing end as she bowed out of the Paris Games after a straight-game defeat to China’s He Bingjiao in the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals on Thursday. The 29-year-old from Hyderabad, who had previously secured silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics and bronze at Tokyo 2020, was outpaced and outplayed by the world number nine Bingjiao in a 56-minute clash, losing 21-19, 21-14.

The match, a rematch of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medal play-off, saw Bingjiao exacting revenge with an impressive display of aggressive badminton. Sindhu, who had topped her group to advance to the knockout stage, struggled to find her rhythm and was unable to mount a consistent attack against her Chinese opponent.

Bingjiao’s lethal forehand and precise smashes proved too much for Sindhu, who was often caught out of position and unable to respond with the necessary pace. Sindhu’s defensive errors and short lifts allowed Bingjiao to dictate the rallies, gathering points at will.

In the opening game, Sindhu quickly fell behind 5-1 as she committed several defensive errors and struggled with her execution. Bingjiao capitalized on Sindhu’s mistakes, using flat pushes and deep returns to keep her opponent on the back foot. Sindhu’s attempts to regain control faltered as her deep shots went wide and long, further handing the advantage to Bingjiao.

Despite a brief resurgence, where Sindhu managed to close the gap, Bingjiao’s relentless attack proved too strong. The Chinese player maintained her composure and intensity, eventually sealing the first game 21-19. The second game followed a similar pattern, with Sindhu unable to keep up with Bingjiao’s pace and precision, ultimately losing 21-14.

Sindhu’s early exit from the Paris Olympics marks a disappointing end to her campaign, especially given her strong performances in previous editions. As one of India’s most successful Olympians, Sindhu had been a strong contender for a medal, but the loss to Bingjiao highlights the fierce competition at the highest level of the sport.

For Bingjiao, the victory is sweet revenge after her defeat to Sindhu in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. With this win, she advances to the quarterfinals, while Sindhu will have to regroup and look ahead to future competitions.

Sindhu’s defeat is a blow to India’s badminton hopes at the Paris Games, but her legacy as one of the country’s greatest athletes remains intact, with two Olympic medals already to her name.