India’s ace shuttler PV Sindhu exited the India Open 2025 after playing an intense match against Indonesia’s 2024 Olympic medallist Gregoria Tunjung. The match was full of intense rallies and dramatic moments, which kept the crowd on their toes at IG Stadium in Delhi Ultimately, Tunjung edged past Sindhu in a thrilling three-game contest with scores of 9-21, 21-19, 17-21.
Sindhu admits her mistake, saying, “I think it was 17 all in the third set where maybe some of my strokes were just too parallel and into her hand. If I had played a bit more back, the outcome might have been different. But in the heat of the game, it’s anyone’s match. I felt I should have been more proactive, as the rallies were long, and we had to fight for each point.”
A difficult start for Sindhu
The match didn’t begin well for Sindhu, as Tunjung immediately took control. With precise drop shots and aggressive net play, Tunjung dominated the first game, winning 21-9. Sindhu struggled to avoid unforced errors and couldn’t find her rhythm to counter Tunjung’s play.
Sindhu worked on mistakes and came back
In the second game, Sindhu dug deep and fought back. Displaying her signature powerful smashes and smart court placement, she gained the upper hand after the mid-game break. Her efforts paid off as she took the second game 21-19, setting up an exciting decider. She worked on her mistakes make in the first game, to make a comeback.
“In the first game, I struggled with drops and slices, but by the second and third sets, I was better prepared. I made easy mistakes at first, but as the match progressed, I adapted and fought back hard.” She added.
A heartbreaking conclusion for Sindhu
The final game was an intense back-and-forth battle. Both Sindhu and Tunjung exchanged leads, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Sindhu showed incredible aggression to keep pace with her opponent. However, in the closing moments, Tunjung remained composed and secured the victory with a 21-17 win, ending Sindhu’s run in the tournament.
Sindhu didn’t like long rallies, and that was something that frustrated her. “It is frustrating when you play such long rallies and lose not because of a big mistake, but just a fraction of a moment. It’s sad to fight hard and then lose in the third set, but that’s the nature of the game. I have to come back stronger and be more consistent in keeping the shuttle in play. Sometimes these things happen.” She stated.
“It’s disappointing, but now it’s time to relax, regroup, and strategise with my coach for upcoming tournaments. The next focus will be the Indonesia tournament.” She concluded.
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