PV Sindhu Exits Malaysia Open After Semi-Final Defeat to World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi

India’s two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu saw her promising run at the Malaysia Open come to an end on Saturday after a semi-final defeat to world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi in Kuala Lumpur. Despite holding strong positions in both games, Sindhu was unable to close out crucial phases, eventually losing the women’s singles last-four clash in straight games, 16–21, 15–21.

The tournament marked Sindhu’s return to competitive badminton after a foot injury that had sidelined her since October. Throughout the week, the Indian star showed encouraging signs of regaining her rhythm, physical sharpness, and confidence on court. Her semi-final performance, though ending in defeat, reflected both the positives of her comeback and the areas that still require fine-tuning as she builds towards peak form.

Sindhu began the match on an assertive note, using her height and reach to dictate rallies early in the opening game. She mixed powerful smashes with well-placed clears, pushing Wang onto the defensive and racing into an early lead. The Chinese shuttler, however, displayed why she is among the most consistent performers on the tour. Gradually settling into the contest, Wang absorbed the pressure with disciplined defence and began to counter-attack with precision.

As the first game progressed, Sindhu’s error count increased at key moments, particularly in tight net exchanges and along the baseline. Wang capitalised on these lapses, raising the pace of the rallies and forcing Sindhu deeper into her court. From a balanced mid-game position, the momentum swung decisively in Wang’s favour, allowing her to close out the opener.

The second game followed a familiar pattern. Sindhu regrouped well after dropping the first, recovering from an early deficit to establish control around the mid-game interval. She once again looked set to force a decider, stretching Wang across the court and opening up angles with her attacking play. However, the inability to sustain intensity proved costly.

Wang responded with greater aggression after the interval, targeting Sindhu’s backhand corner and turning defence into offence with sharp counter-punching. A sequence of close net points went the Chinese player’s way, denting Sindhu’s momentum. As pressure mounted, the Indian star struggled to regain control of the rallies, allowing Wang to pull clear in the closing stages and seal her place in the final.

Although the loss ended India’s challenge at the tournament — with other Indian contenders also exiting earlier — Sindhu’s overall performance remained a major positive takeaway. Competing deep into a top-tier event so soon after injury underlined her resilience and competitive edge.

As she continues her return to full fitness, Sindhu will take confidence from her Malaysia Open showing. The semi-final run signals that the former world champion is steadily moving in the right direction, with sharper match fitness and consistency expected to follow in the coming tournaments.