PV Sindhu storms into Malaysia Open semi-final in comeback after long layoff due to injuries | Badminton News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu continued her encouraging return to badminton at the top level, advancing to the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 on Friday in what is her first tournament after a lengthy injury layoff.Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!World number 18 Sindhu progressed after her quarter-final opponent, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, retired injured after the opening match at the Axiata Arena. Sindhu had dominated the first match 21-11 before third-seeded Yamaguchi, a three-time world champion wearing a knee brace, decided she could not continue due to injury.

The result increases Sindhu’s head-to-head lead over world number 1. 3 Yamaguchi to 15-12 and underlined the Indian star’s growing confidence as she works her way back to top fitness and form.Sindhu’s run in Kuala Lumpur was marked by controlled aggression and composure. In the earlier rounds, she defeated world number 33 Sung Shuo-yun of Chinese Taipei and then produced a solid performance to defeat eighth seed Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan to book her place in the last eight of the prestigious BWF Super 1000 event. The wins have been a major boost for Sindhu, who has been sidelined for months due to injury and is carefully managing her return to competition.

In the semi-finals, Sindhu will face the winner of the quarter-final between China’s second seed Wang Zhiyi and Indonesia’s sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani as she looks to take another step forward in her comeback journey.Elsewhere, it was a mixed day for Indian badminton. Men’s singles star Lakshya Sen exited the tournament after a straight defeat to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in the pre-quarterfinals. Sen, in 13th place, went down 22-20, 21-15 in 53 minutes, despite gaining several game points in the opening match. It meant his third defeat in five meetings against the number 18 in the world.