- Sunday, February 23, 2025
Bing Jiao’s smashes and soft drops had Sindhu scurrying on both sides of the court. But when Sindhu attacked, the Chinese defended well
By: Shajil Kumar
P V SINDHU has no regrets regarding her preparations for the Games. She did everything she could to be in the best shape, but admitted defence let her down in the pre-quarterfinal against China’s He Bing Jiao, here Thursday.
Sindhu ran the Chinese world number 9 close in the first game but unending unforced errors meant that Bing Jao ran away with the match 21-19 21-14 in 56 minutes. Sindhu even dictated a few points but had no answer to Bing Jiao’s superior attack.
“I should have controlled in terms of a little bit of mistakes on my defense is what I felt,” Sindhu said, reflecting upon the reason for her defeat.
Sindhu had a training camp in Germany and also joined forces with mentor Prakash Padukone for better preparation.
“Everybody worked hard, so we’ve done whatever we could. Rest is destiny. I don’t regret it,” she said.
“I kept fighting still because you never know anything can happen. Both of us were fighting for each point because until the end you can’t expect.
“It’s not easy win or easy points, you can’t think that you have finished the game.”
Bing Jiao’s smashes and soft drops had Sindhu scurrying on both sides of the court. But when Sindhu attacked, the Chinese defended well.
It was neck-and-neck in the first game with Sindhu and her rival locked 19-19.
The two-time Olympic medalist said winning the game from that position could have changed things for her.
In game two, Sindhu tried to unsettle Bing Jiao with smashes but her opponent was picking up all those low shots as well.
Asked if she would try to play in the next Olympics in the US, Sindhu was non-committal.
“It’s still four years away. So for me, right now, I just go back and rest for a bit,” the 29-year-old said. (PTI)
