PV Sindhu falls to An Se-young again as India stars gear up for China Masters QFs

Sindhu, seeking to end her jinx against the Korean superstar, went down 14-21, 13-21 in 38 minutes, as An dominated with ferocious smashes and deceptive shot-making.

Sindhu’s struggle began immediately, falling behind 1-6 before eking out a mini-comeback to 5-9 with a precise cross-court drop shot. However, An’s trademark power and court coverage saw her surge to an 11-5 lead at the interval. Despite Sindhu fighting back to 11-14, the Olympic gold medallist sealed the opening game when Sindhu lifted into the net under heavy pressure.

The second game saw Sindhu briefly lead 3-2, sparking hope of a momentum shift. Yet An Se-young’s superior variation and speed allowed her to reassert control, moving ahead 8-7. From there, the Korean extended her advantage to 14-7 after the mid-game break and never relinquished control, converting eight match points with a ruthless cross-court smash to clinch victory.

Sindhu’s exit ends India’s challenge in the women’s singles draw but underscores An’s growing dominance over top opponents. Sindhu, now 0–8 against An, will look to regroup ahead of upcoming tournaments.

Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced confidently to the quarterfinals with a 21-13, 21-12 win over Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin in just 33 minutes. The dynamic Indian duo will face China’s Ren Xiang Yu and Xie Haonan later today, aiming to maintain momentum and book a semifinal spot.

With An Se-young continuing her remarkable run and Satwik-Chirag poised for a tough clash, India’s hopes at the China Masters rest on their men’s doubles stars delivering another stellar performance.