PV Sindhu’s loss was a cruel blow in the late stages of an already dismal day for India at the Olympics.
Strangely, it ended up against a Chinese player. Purportedly designed to dethrone the players from the indisputable leaders of badminton, PV Sindhu gained notoriety in 2013 after taking home a bronze medal at the World Championship held in China. She defeated some of the greatest names in women’s badminton history along the way, including a few of the best players from the host country.
It seems a bit poetically unfair that her trip would come to an end after losing to China’s He Bingjiao 21-19, 21-14 in the final 16 stage of the Paris Olympics. The collapse of Chinese rule was aided by Tai Tzu-ying of Chinese Taipei, Sindhu, and Carolina Marin of Spain. Sindhu led the charge in this revolution that altered the global order.
The late hammer blow of Sindhu’s defeat came on a depressing day for India at the Olympics. Expectations were low. Sindhu was long past her prime; she had won silver and bronze in the previous two Games. Recent documentation seemed to indicate that. But there was hope against hope since it was her and she had a history of major happenings. Could she reverse the clock and defy reason?
It’s true that Sindhu was never truly in the game, despite brief moments of brilliance. Aside from a brief period in the second game when the score was 2-1 in her favor, she was constantly playing catch-up and never had the upper hand. In a matter of minutes, it was game, set, match, and an era gone as it quickly turned 8-2 against her. It was clear that He Bingjiao was the superior player.
But that doesn’t diminish what Sindhu has accomplished. She was the only Indian to have dominated her sport for such a long time. Two medals from the Olympics. She may be the most decorated international athlete in Indian history with five World Championship medals, including gold in 2019 along with two silver and one bronze each.
