India’s badminton ace PV Sindhu stormed into the quarterfinals of the China Masters with a commanding straight-game win over sixth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand in Shenzhen on Thursday. The two-time Olympic medallist needed just 41 minutes to defeat her higher-ranked opponent 21-15, 21-15, marking a significant step forward in her campaign.
With the win, Sindhu, currently ranked 14th in the world, improved her head-to-head record against Chochuwong to 6-5, gaining both momentum and confidence heading into the business end of the tournament. She will now face the winner of the highly anticipated clash between top seed An Se Young of Korea and Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in the quarterfinals.
Coming off a first-round exit at the recently concluded Hong Kong Open, Sindhu approached this match with renewed focus. Speaking after her victory, she said, “I am happy with the win, and it was very important for me from the beginning to be alert and give my 100 per cent. She (Chochuwong) is a top player. I played her in the Indonesia Open; that time, it was a hard match. After winning the first game, I was much more alert in the second game.”
Sindhu emphasized the importance of staying close to her opponent during the tight exchanges. “The points were going to be equal, so it was very important for me to stay close to her, as every point counts. I am happy that I am on the winning side, and I gave my best,” she added.
She also highlighted the benefit of closing out matches in two games, while stressing the need to be prepared for longer contests. “Straight wins always give you that confidence. But you also have to be prepared for long matches and make sure that you are quicker on your feet.”
Discussing the impact of court conditions, Sindhu noted the challenge of air-conditioning drift, a frequent issue at indoor tournaments. “It’s always there, every tournament there is wind, but it is important that you have control. But sometimes it’s very hard to control.”
Sindhu is currently working under Indian women’s singles coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama, previously with the Indonesian men’s team. Their growing partnership, she said, is beginning to yield results. “He is a very good coach. Initially when we started, obviously we knew it will take time. We coordinated and figured out what needs to be done and changed. As a coach he is giving his best efforts, and as an athlete it’s my duty also.”
With her rhythm returning, Sindhu looks poised for a strong finish in Shenzhen.
