PV Sindhu eliminated by Wang Zhi Yi at BWF World Championships

India's campaign in women's singles at the BWF World Championships 2026 concluded on Thursday, August 20, with the elimination of star player PV Sindhu. The two-time Olympic medallist was defeated by China's Wang Zhi Yi in a hard-fought prequarterfinal match held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Sindhu, a five-time World Championships medallist seeking an unprecedented sixth medal, lost to the Chinese player in three games: 11-21, 21-15, 17-21. The match lasted 88 minutes and saw Wang overcome cramps in the deciding game to secure her quarterfinal spot. This defeat ended Sindhu's remarkable and previously perfect record against Chinese opponents in completed matches at the World Championships, where she had won all eight previous encounters.

Wang dominated the opening game, capitalizing on Sindhu's errors to build a commanding lead. The Indian shuttler responded strongly in the second game, lifting her performance with the support of the home crowd to level the match. The decider was a tense, physically demanding battle with multiple lead changes. Wang moved ahead 15-13 before Sindhu fought back to 15-15 and then 16-16. At that point, Wang received treatment for...