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PV Sindhu’s aspirations of breaking India’s drought at the All England Open were shattered on Thursday as she suffered an early exit in the second round. The two-time Olympic medallist faced a formidable challenge against World No. 1 An Se Young and succumbed to a 19-21, 11-21 defeat in just 42 minutes of play in Birmingham. An Se Young, the defending champion, showcased her dominance, leaving Sindhu struggling to keep up.
This marked Sindhu’s seventh consecutive loss to An Se Young, with the Indian shuttler managing to snatch just one game across their seven encounters. Despite a promising start where Sindhu surged to a 4-1 lead in the opening game, she found herself unable to navigate through An’s resolute defense.
The South Korean’s remarkable ability to swiftly transition from defense to offense proved to be a significant challenge for Sindhu, particularly in the front-court battles where she struggled to gain ground.
Sindhu, who has been diligently working on regaining her top form, showcased glimpses of her rhythm early on but ultimately fell short against the relentless onslaught from An Se Young.
As the curtains draw on Sindhu’s campaign at the All England Open, she will undoubtedly look to regroup and bounce back stronger in future tournaments, aiming to overcome the formidable obstacle that An Se Young presents in her path to glory.
