All England: Sindhu falters, exits in first round
PV Sindhu exited the All England Championships in the first round, struggling against Korea’s Kim Ga-eun. She started strong, leading 20-12 in the first game, but Kim staged a stunning comeback. Sindhu won the opener 21-19, but her errors piled up in the next two games. Kim switched to quick exchanges and exploited Sindhu’s backhand, winning 21-13, 21-13. Sindhu, dealing with fitness concerns, lacked her usual sharpness.
Earlier in 2024, Sindhu reached the India Open quarterfinals but faced early exits at the Indonesia Masters and Asia Mixed Team event. Her current world No.16 ranking reflects her struggles.
Kim, ranked No.21, entered the match with a knee brace but showed remarkable agility. She forced long rallies and tested Sindhu’s movement. The Korean’s defense turned into clever counterattacks, frustrating Sindhu. A 42-shot rally in the second game exposed Sindhu’s fatigue, allowing Kim to take control.
The third game saw Kim dominate short rallies, land precise flicks, and keep Sindhu on the defensive. From 13-19, Kim reeled off points, sealing victory in an hour. Sindhu’s coach urged her to fight, but she seemed out of energy.
In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand defeated Chinese Taipei’s Shuo Yun Sung and Chien Hui Yu 21-17, 21-13 to reach the last 16. In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde edged past Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan 21-10, 17-21, 24-22.
