Badminton Asia Championships: Sindhu loses in semis clash, bags bronze
World No. 7 PV Sindhu has collected a bronze medal at the 2022 Badminton Asia Championships. She lost to the number one seed, Akane Yamaguchi, in the semi-finals 21-13, 19-21, 16-21. It is Sindhu's second bronze medal at the tournament, having won the same back in 2014. Sindhu has an 21-5 win-loss record in 2022. Here are more details.
Sindhu trumped Pai Yu Po of Taiwan 18-21, 27-25, 21-9. In the round of 16, she overcame Yue Yann Jaslyn Hooi in straight games. In the quarter-finals, Sindhu beat China's He Bing Jiao 21-9, 13-21, 21-19. Sindhu failed to get past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the semis, losing by 13-21, 21-19, 21-16. She now holds an 13-9 win-loss record against Yamaguchi in head-to-head meetings.
Back in January, Sindhu finished third at the Sunrise India Open which was held in New Delhi. She won the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow. She exited in the round of 16 of the Yonex Gainward German Open and Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships. She won the Yonex Swiss Open and finished third at the Korea Open and Badminton Asia Championships.
Sindhu is a two-time Olympic medalist (2016, 2020). She has won five medals at the BWF World Championships (one gold, two silver, two bronze). She claimed silver at the Asian Games (2018). Sindhu has won two medals at the Commonwealth Games (2014, 2018). Sindhu has won three BWF World Tour titles and BWF Super Series titles. She has won six BWF Grand Prix honors.
The match lasted a total of 66 minutes. Sindhu started off well, clinching the first game 21-13. She looked commanding at the start of the second game to take an 11-6 lead over Yamaguchi. However, Yamaguchi willed herself to level at 15-15 and eventually pocketed the second game 21-19. Yamaguchi then gained a 14-9 lead in the decider and later sealed the show 21-16.
In the first round, Yamaguchi eased past India's Aakarshi Kashyap in straight games 21-5, 21-9. She overcame Komang Ayu Cahya Dewi in the second round 21-23, 21-9, 21-19. In the quarters, Yamaguchi was involved in an arduous battle against Pornpawee Chochuwong 9-21, 21-15, 21-17 before overcoming Sindhu. Notably, she has bounced back in her last three matches after trailing in the first game.
Yamaguchi enjoys a 10-1 win-loss record in 2022. She won the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships, beating An Seyoung in the final in straight games. Prior to that, she was ousted in the round of 16 at the YONEX GAINWARD German Open. Yamaguchi lost to He Bingjiao 21-17, 21-11.
