BWF World Championships: PV Sindhu rediscovers vintage touch, stuns World No. 2

PV Sindhu proved she is far from finished with a performance for the ages in Paris on Thursday, 28 August. The 30-year-old rediscovered her vintage touch as she dismantled World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi, one of the season’s most consistent shuttlers, in straight games. With a commanding 21-17, 21-15 victory, Sindhu advanced to the quarter-finals of the BWF World Championships for the first time since 2021.

Sindhu is now just one win away from securing her sixth world championships medal. The 15th seed will take on ninth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Sindhu displayed flashes of the form that had taken her to an Olympic silver medal in Rio and a World Championship gold in 2019, attacking with relentless aggression. Neither the numbers nor the pre-match chatter mattered as Sindhu entered the zone, her triumphant roars telling the story.

With the win, Sindhu also extended her perfect record against Chinese shuttlers at the world meet -- 8-0.

She roared in delight as



she conquered what many had considered an impossible challenge. Taking a moment to soak in the applause from the packed Paris crowd, she then walked over to share a warm embrace with her coach, Irwansyah. The Indonesian tactician seemed to play a crucial role in keeping Sindhu calm and composed, with their mid-game exchanges appearing both lively and candid.

Warming up for the big-ticket contest on Court 2 at the Adidas Arena, even the on-air commentators doubted her chances, suggesting she might not be able to overcome Wang, who has enjoyed a sensational season on tour, winning the China Open and reaching as many as six finals.

On paper and in current form, Sindhu was the underdog on Thursday. The Indian star had endured a string of first-round exits, with her ability to challenge the very best openly questioned.

Yet Sindhu reminded the world why she remains a force on the grandest stages. The five-time World Championship medallist returned to her attacking best, leaving Wang unsettled throughout the 48-minute encounter.