India
India’s PV Sindhu lost the opening match of her BWF World Tour Finals campaign in Guangzhou on Wednesday. The defending champion was beaten in 3 games by higher-ranked Akane Yamaguchi.
Sindhu’s title defence in Guangzhou got off to a good start as she took the first game 21-18. However, Yamaguchi forced a decider by taking the 2nd game 21-18.
In the decider, it was all Yamaguchi’s show as Sindhu found the Japanese shuttler’s defensive skills too good to handle. Sindhu did not even reach double figures as Yamaguchi sealed the decider 21-8 and the match in an hour and 8 minutes.
Having lost the opening game in Group A, World No. 6 Sindhu is under considerable pressure as she may need 2 wins in her next 2 matches to seal a spot in the semi-final.
Notably, Sindhu had remained unbeaten last year en route to the top step of the podium in Guangzhou.
Sindhu will next face World No. 2 Chen Yufei and lower-ranked He Bingjiao in the remaining two matches in the group stages.
In the other match of Group A on Wednesday, Chen Yufei made light work of a challenge from her Chinese counterpart He Bingjiao.
