India had a disappointing start to their Sudirman Cup campaign, experiencing defeat in both the doubles matches as Sai Prateek-Tanisha Crasto and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty faced setbacks. In addition, HS Prannoy and PV Sindhu couldn't secure victories in the singles games.
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PV Sindhu's valiant effort ended in heartbreak as India suffered a disappointing start to their Sudirman Cup campaign, succumbing to a formidable Chinese Taipei team in the opening round on Sunday.
In the mixed doubles contest, Tanisha Crasto and K Sai Prateek showcased immense determination but eventually faltered, losing 21-18, 24-26, 6-21 to world no. 30 Yang Po-Hsuan and Hu Ling Fang, despite their initial strong performance.
Prannoy falters, India trails 0-2
HS Prannoy, ranked 9th in the world, struggled to find his top form and lost 19-21, 15-21 to the 5th-ranked Chou Tien Chen, contributing to India's 0-2 deficit after the initial two matches.
Sindhu's valiant effort ends in defeat
With the daunting presence of her arch-rival and former world number 1, Tai Tzu Ying, on the opposing side of the court, PV Sindhu was tasked with the challenge of rejuvenating India's chances in the match.
PV Sindhu, the 27-year-old badminton player from Hyderabad, displayed resilience in her performance despite recent struggles. However, her efforts fell short as she was unable to overcome Tai Tzu, who secured a hard-fought victory with a scoreline of 21-14, 18-21, 21-17 in a duration of one hour and four minutes.
With this result, Chinese Taipei sealed an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the five-match tie, leaving India with an uphill battle to make a comeback.
It is worth noting that Sindhu's last victory over Tai Tzu dates back to her triumph in the 2019 World Championships. The encounter marked the 18th defeat for Sindhu against the talented player from Taipei.
Sindhu's impressive comeback in the match
Despite a relatively modest performance this season, including a runner-up finish at the Spain Masters, Sindhu showcased significant improvement in her gameplay. After dropping the first game, she displayed remarkable resilience and fought back strongly in the subsequent two games.
Tai Tzu's early dominance challenged
Tai Tzu's dominance was evident in the initial game, but Sindhu elevated her performance in the second, forcing the match into a decisive third game.
Tactical maneuvers and intense point exchanges
In the crucial third game, both players remained evenly matched until the score reached 6-6. However, Tai Tzu managed to gain a slight advantage with a 9-6 lead. Nevertheless, Sindhu remained determined and used her skills to create difficult shots for her opponent.
Sindhu fought back strongly, delivering a forehand-angled drive that brought the score level at 10-10. However, Tai Tzu managed to secure a one-point lead before the mid-game break.