PV Sindhu lost to Olympic champion Chen Yufei in a 92-minute match at the French Open on March 8, but not before putting up a heroic display.
In the same stadium that will host the Olympic Games later this year, Sindhu came close to her Chinese opponent, World No. 2, despite it being her first competitive individual tournament since returning from a protracted injury layoff.
Sindhu took the first game with a thrilling finish but lost consecutively (24-22, 17-21, and 18-21) in an hour and 32 minutes.
A true champion is not defined by victories alone, but by the courage to continue when the going gets tough.
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) March 8, 2024
Onwards and upwards Sindhu!
: @badmintonphoto#FrenchOpen2024 #IndiaontheRise#Badminton pic.twitter.com/iC1xfcfBXm
Despite returning from injury, Sindhu moved effortlessly on the court, demonstrating increased control over drop shots, and the massive smashes. The Chinese star wriggled out of trouble in the middle parts of Games 2 and 3 because Sindhu was unable to close it out.
The bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics trailed 12-16 in the third game, and Yufei's victory seemed certain from there. Sindhu, on the other hand, pushed herself, demonstrating to the world that she still has much left in her tank to put up a strong fight.
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