PV Sindhu’s quarterfinal clash against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung at the India Open Super 750 was filled with electrifying moments at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. As she narrowed the deficit from 15-17 to 17-17 in the deciding game, the crowd was fully engaged, sensing a potential comeback.
Among the spectators was a 12-year-old girl, an ardent Sindhu fan, who held a handmade poster featuring pictures of the Indian star alongside her own, declaring, “I am the next Sindhu, coming soon.” Seated in the front row, she jumped excitedly as Sindhu fired two winners to level the score. After a challenging start with a 9-21 loss in the opening game, Sindhu seemed to be finding her rhythm.
However, at 17-17, a decisive 24-shot rally shifted the momentum. Sindhu initially dictated the point with aggressive play, but Tunjung gradually seized control, drawing her forward and engaging in a battle at the net. Despite Sindhu’s desperate lunges to stay in the rally, Tunjung sealed the point with a precise down-the-line winner. As Sindhu bent over in exhaustion, her young fan slumped back into her chair, sensing the inevitable outcome.
Though Sindhu fought valiantly, Tunjung clinched the match 21-9, 19-21, 21-17 in a gripping 62-minute encounter. Reflecting on the loss, Sindhu acknowledged the turning point, saying, “At 17-all in the third game, some of my strokes were too predictable and played into her hand. If I had placed them slightly deeper, it might have made a difference. Losing a long match after fighting hard is disappointing, but that’s how sport is. Either of us could have been on the losing side.”
Despite the setback, Sindhu remains optimistic, emphasizing the need for greater consistency and smarter shot placement in crucial moments.