Tokyo Olympics: PV Sindhu loses to Tai Tzu-Ying, plays He Bingjiao for bronze
- Indian shuttler loses semi-final 2-0 to move on to bronze medal match in women’s singles five years on from silver medal
- Taiwanese No 2 meets China’s No 1 Chen Yufei after she edged training partner He Bingjiao in other semi
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu will not match her women’s singles silver medal of five years ago after losing her semi-final to Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-Ying.
The No 2 seed won 2-0 at the Musashino Forest Sports Park Plaza, winning out 21-18, 21-12 against the sixth seed in 40 minutes.
Sindhu paid for a number of unforced errors as Tai pulled away in the second game.
“It was a good match. I fought until the end,” Sindhu said. “In the second game I gave away a huge lead but still I was fighting back because you never know, it can change at any moment. It‘s the Olympics, you have to fight until the last point and I have done that.
“I‘m a bit sad because it’s the semifinals. I’ve tried my best, but it was just not my day.
“I think in the first game it was 18-all, and then I didn‘t take the chance. They were long rallies and if I had taken the first game it would have been a bit different I think. The first game made a huge difference.”
No gold dream for Rio 2016 silver star PV Sindhu after Tai loss
Tai moves on to face the Chinese No 1 seed Chen Yufei, who edged compatriot and No 8 seed He Bingjaio 2-1 in an epic that lasted 79 minutes.
Chen had lost twice to He in pre-Tokyo warm-up matches.
Gold medal hopes Chen and Tai will face off on Sunday evening after bronze is decided between Sindhu and He.
Chen is focused on doing her best for China, she said.
“It’s good that I’ve gotten this far, but I’m still not completely satisfied. I’ll work hard for the gold but also won’t give myself too much of a burden to bear. Just don’t give up, and I’ll do my best to showcase the spirit of the Chinese badminton and Chinese women’s singles team.
“It‘s going to be a bit sad. I need to go back and relax and prepare for tomorrow because it is not over yet. I still have a chance. I will be playing against He so I hope I give my best. It just wasn’t my day, but I’m going to try it again tomorrow.
“I‘m sure a lot of people from India have supported me and showed me their love.”
