PV Sindhu Advances to Next Round of Singapore Open After First-Round Victory

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has progressed to the second round of the Singapore Open 2024 after defeating Denmark's Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt in a straight-game victory. Sindhu, ranked 10th in the world, secured a 21-12, 22-20 win in a 44-minute encounter on Wednesday.

Sindhu dominated the first game, turning an early 7-8 deficit into a commanding 21-12 win. The second game proved more challenging, with Kjaersfeldt leading 20-16 at one point. However, Sindhu saved multiple match points and won six consecutive points to take the game 22-20.

Sindhu's victory sets up a highly anticipated second-round clash with Rio Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Spain. Marin, who holds an 11-5 record against Sindhu, won her first-round match against Thailand's Wei Jin Goh with scores of 22-20, 21-18.

This win comes just a week after Sindhu's second-place finish at the Thailand Masters, highlighting her current form. The Singapore Open holds special significance for Sindhu, as she last won a BWF title here two years ago.

The day was mixed for other Indian shuttlers. HS Prannoy advanced to the second round after defeating Belgium's Julien Carraggi 21-9, 18-21, 21-9. Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen lost to world number one Viktor Axelsen in a three-game match, 13-21, 21-16, 13-21.

Kidambi Srikanth was forced to retire from his match against Japan's Kodai Naraoka with a knee injury, trailing 14-21, 3-11. In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won their match against Chinese Taipei's Cheng Yu-Pei and Sun Yu Hsing 21-7, 21-14.

Sindhu's next match against Carolina Marin will be pivotal in her bid to end her title drought since her Singapore Open win in 2022. A podium finish in the upcoming Paris Olympics would make Sindhu the first Indian to win three Olympic medals.

Sindhu's progress in the Singapore Open reflects her resilience and determination as she aims for another title. Her upcoming match against Marin promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of badminton's top competitors.

Key Takeaways

• PV Sindhu advances to Singapore Open 2024 second round with a 21-12, 22-20 win over Denmark's Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt.
• Sindhu will face Rio Olympic champion Carolina Marin in the second round, who holds an 11-5 record against her.
• This win comes after Sindhu's second-place finish at the Thailand Masters, showcasing her current form.
• HS Prannoy and Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand also advanced to the second round, while Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth lost.
• A podium finish in the Paris Olympics would make Sindhu the first Indian to win three Olympic medals.