Badminton, Malaysia Masters Super 500, as it happened: Sindhu goes down to Wang Zhi Yi in a decider

That’s it for The Field’s coverage of the 2024 Malaysia Masters Super 500

Right then, PV Sindhu’s return to court after a month long break has ended with a runner-up finish at the Axiata Arena. She would have definitely wanted more but this has been an extremely good week for her.

The double Olympic medallist even had the upper hand in the final against Wang Zhi Yi, leading the decider 11-3 after a disastrous second game, but the drift was too much to handle. In the second half of the decider, the Indian could muster only five points compared to the world No 7 Wang’s 18.

She surely could have handled it better in the title clash, but Sindhu fought her way through some tough opponents, played four deciders in four days – all without any physical discomfort. Small wins. Fitness wise she is up there and with the Paris Olympics, exactly two months away, she still has enough time at her hands to iron out the minor flaws.

Thank you for tuning into The Field’s coverage from the Malaysia Masters. See you next time!

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 16-21 Wang Zhi Yi: The final shot from Sindhu lands long, and Wang Zhi Yi is off with her celebrations. PV Sindhu goes down in 79 minutes and her title drought continues.

The last women’s singles title win for the Indian was the 2022 Commonwealth Games, her last world tour title meanwhile was just weeks before that at the 2022 Singapore Open Super 500.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 16-20 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu comes up to the net and places well into the far corner to save the first match point, before a shot from Wang is called in. Sindhu challenges and is proven right. That’s the second point saved.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 14-20 Wang Zhi Yi: It has unravelled quite drastically for Sindhu, hasn’t it? Six championship points for Wang. Sindhu is down and out.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 14-17 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu goes long before she fails to return a well placed shot and finds the net. Three point lead for the Chinese and she is just four points away. Can Sindhu find a moment of inspiration?

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 14-15 Wang Zhi Yi: A much needed point for Sindhu, as she placed her smash wide of Wang, whose return lands wide.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 13-15 Wang Zhi Yi: Yet another mistake from Sindu as she goes wide to help Wang to the lead for the first time in the decider. The Chinese extends it to two points with a beautiful defensive shot which catches Sindhu short.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 13-13 Wang Zhi Yi: Wang Zhi Yi EQUALISES! A stunning fightback this from the second seed as she comes back from 3-11 down at the mid-game break to level the playing field. Sindhu is rattled. Does the Indian have it in her to turn the tides?

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 13-11 Wang Zhi Yi: Wang fights back to win three points and bring back the deficit to two points. 8-2 in favour of the Chinese since the break.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 13-8 Wang Zhi Yi: A well placed shot from Sindhu, far away from Wang to the right side corner. The Chinese has to stretch full length, and hits the net. A much needed point for Sindhu. Wang goes long in the next rally to hand the Indian another point. Lead back up to five points for Sindhu.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 11-8 Wang Zhi Yi: Another monster rally, 55 shots this time, and it hands Wang her fifth straight point since the change of ends. Sindhu is tired and this is not looking good. Her eight-point lead has been cut down to three.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 11-6 Wang Zhi Yi: Unforced erros from Sindhu now as she first goes long, before finding the net. Wang closes the gap to 6-11 with three points in a row.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 11-4 Wang Zhi Yi: An extremly long rally – 56 shots –and it falls in favour of the Chinese shuttler for the first point after the change of sides. Both Sindhu and Wang have their hands on the knees after that play. We are already past the hour mark.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 11-3 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu draws a wide shot from Sindhu before having Wang down on her knees with a beautiful cross court drop to go 10-3 up with a seven-point lead. Wang once again goes wide and the Indian has an eight point lead before then change of sides.

It is game on at the Axiata Arena!

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 8-3 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu hits the net to hand Wang her third point, before the second seed returns the favour after a long rally as the shuttle hits the net and falls back to her side. Sindhu is inching closer to that 11-point mark.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 7-2 Wang Zhi Yi: A long rally, possibly the longest of the match, and Sindhu keeps returning the shuttle with ease before coming out with a winner against the run of play. Five-point advantage for the former world champion.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 6-2 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu hits long to give Wang her second point, before the Chinese errs in her serve before hitting long herself to help the Indian to a four-point lead.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 4-1 Wang Zhi Yi: Three points in a row from Sindhu. Two beautiful winners, far away from Wang’s reach to open up a three-point lead. Exactly what the doctor ordered for the Indian. Create as big a lead as possible before the change of ends.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21, 1-1 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu wins the first point of the decider as she pushes forward to the net aggressively and takes the point with a push, taking Wang by surprise. The Chinese equalises with a smash, as an indecisive Sindhu is stuck in the middle of the court, confused which side she should go to.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 5-21 Wang Zhi Yi: Even luck now on Wang’s side as the shuttle kisses the net and falls on Sindhu’s side. 16 game points for Wang, Sindhu saves one before hitting the shuttle wide. Wang takes the second game 21-5.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 4-18 Wang Zhi Yi: The result of this is a foregone conclusion now. Sindhu is terribly impatient and keeps hitting wide.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 4-14 Wang Zhi Yi: Wang continues to stroll in the second game as Sindhu continues to struggle with the drift. A 10-point lead for the Chinese at 4-14. Sindhu seems to have given up this game mentally.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 4-11 Wang Zhi Yi: A good point for Sindhu as she pressurises Wang at the net and forces her to lift the shuttle, which lands long. First point post the break, goes to the Indian.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 3-11 Wang Zhi Yi: Five points in a row for Wang and too add insult to the injury, Sindhu has lost her second review as well challenging a shot called out. The Indian pulls one point back, but then smashes the other one way wide to trail 3-11 at the mid-game interval.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 2-8 Wang Zhi Yi: A poor challenge from Sindhu after misjudging a shot at the backline. She felt it was long from Wang, but the review proves otherwise. She is struggling now, is Sindhu as she pushes one wide to help the Chinese to a six-point lead.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 2-5 Wang Zhi Yi: Finally, a point for Sindhu after Wang pockets four in a row. The Indian comes up to the net and jump smashes straight to Wang. The second seed is taken aback by the power and misses it completely.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 1-4 Wang Zhi Yi: Three points in a row for Wang, the last being a poor leave from Sindhu at the back line. The Chinese shuttler has the better side of the court for this game and she is making it count early on. Sindhu cannot allow easy points such as these.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16, 1-1 Wang Zhi Yi: Wang pockets the first point as a Sindhu clear lands long, before she hits the net to help the Indian equalise.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 21-16 Wang Zhi Yi: A well judged leave at the backline from Sindhu to give her game point, before she converts it as Wang hits the net on a smash return in the next rally.

Game 1 to PV Sindhu.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 19-16 Wang Zhi Yi: A service error from Sindhu. It goes long. Rare, but Wang will take it. Then an error at the net from the Indian makes it two in a row for the Chinese.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 19-14 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu pulls it back with a well placed lob. She draws Wang forward before landing it perfectly inside the backline. Good stuff from the double Olympic medallist.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 18-14 Wang Zhi Yi: Three consecuitve points now for Wang as she tries to force a comeback. A very long rally which ends up with Sindhu hitting the net before Sindhu going long. Is this a shift in momentum?

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 17-10 Wang Zhi Yi: A seven point lead for the Indian now as she rushes forward to the net and picks the bones out of the shuttle with a powerful smash. On the charge is Sindhu.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 15-9 Wang Zhi Yi: PV Sindhu is asserting her dominance now. Fourth point in a row as she finds a beautiful angle to kill the rally with a drop after pushing the Chinese shuttler to one side of the court.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 14-9 Wang Zhi Yi: Three points for Sindhu as she extends her lead to five points – the biggest so far this match. First an unforced error from Wang, before a splendid return from Sindhu has her struggling. Wang goes long in the next rally and challenges the onfield call and is proven wrong.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 11-9 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu with a slender 11-9 advantage as the players head into the first mid-game interval. Some words of wisdom from Agus Dwi Santoso, who is in the coaching chair, for the Indian.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 8-6 Wang Zhi Yi: Two consecutive points for Sindhu, first a brilliant defensive display forcing an error out of Wang at the net before she comes up with a big booming jump smash to kill of the next rally.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 6-4 Wang Zhi Yi: A nice body smash from the Indian as she opens up a two-point lead. Wang is matching Sindhu shot for shot and early signs that the players are in it for a long haul.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 3-3 Wang Zhi Yi: Sindhu goes in a run of three points, but Wang soon pulls it back to equalise with a well placed smash just inside the backline on the right corner.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu 1-2 Wang Zhi Yi: The Chinese shuttler opens up a 2-0 lead, pocketing the first two points of the contest, but Sindhu kills of a longish rally with a well placed drop to win her first point.

Women’s singles final, PV Sindhu vs Wang Zhi Yi: We are done with the toss and the warmups. Wang will serve first from the far end of our screens. Sindhu to receive.

FYI, PV Sindhu last won a World Tour title at the Singapore Open Super 500 back in July 2022. Any guesses on who she beat then? Wang Zhi Yi – the opponent she will face today.

Women’s doubles: Rin Iwanga and Kie Nakanishi win the women’s doubles title at the Malaysia Masters Super 500 17-21, 21-19, 21-18 in 95 minutes.

PV Sindhu will be on court soon.

Timing update: The women’s singles final between PV Sindhu and Wang Zhi Yi is the second match of the day. It will start after the ongoing women’s doubles final Japan’s Rin Iwanga-Kie Nakanishi and South Korea’s Lee Yu Lim-Shin Seung Chan concludes.

Hello and welcome to Scroll’s coverage of Indian badminton

PV Sindhu, returning to active competition after a break of more than a month, has made her way into the women’s singles final of the 2024 Malaysia Masters Super 500. The double Olympic medallist will be up against China’s second seed and world No 7 Wang Zhi Yi.

This marks the 28-year-old Sindhu’s first World Tour final since the Spain Masters Super 300 in April last year, where she finished second best to Georgia Mariska Tunjung. In fact, the Indian has not won a title in the World Tour circuit since her triumph at the Singapore Open Super 500 back in July 2022, just weeks before her gold winning run at the Birmingham Commmonwealth Games with an injury.

Despite the absence of some of the big names at the Malaysia Masters, Sindhu has had to work hard to reach the final. She heads into the title clash on the back of three intense deciders from the Round of 16 onwards.

Sindhu got the better of Wang’s compatriot and the top seed Han Yue in the quarter-finals, before taking down Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the semi-finals.

Can the Indian win one more to end her title drought? Stay tuned for all the updates.

Screenshots courtesy Jio Cinema and BWF Tournament Software