PV Sindhu defeats top seed Han Yue to reach Malaysia Masters semifinals

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu advanced to the semifinals of the Malaysia Masters on Friday, May 24, by defeating top-seed Han Yue from China. Sindhu triumphed in the quarterfinal with a 21-13, 14-21, 21-12 victory, marking her first semifinals appearance on the BWF tour in 2024. This progress is significant for the 28-year-old, who has been struggling with form recently, as she prepares for the Paris Olympics in July-August.

In the quarterfinal, Sindhu started strong, securing a lead in the opening game. Although Han Yue fought back to win the second game 21-14, Sindhu regained her momentum in the final game, securing her place in the next round.

Sindhu will face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Singapore’s Putri Kusuma Wardani and Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the semifinals. Currently ranked No.15 in the world, Sindhu is eager to win the Malaysian Masters, seeking her first BWF title since the Singapore Open in 2022. Since then, she has faced challenges with form and injuries but is determined to return to her best with the Paris 2024 Olympics just two months away.

Sindhu previously won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The question remains whether the Paris Olympics will bring her the gold. Only time will tell…