Former world champion P. V. Sindhu booked her place in the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships on Wednesday after staging another dramatic comeback to defeat Malaysia's Letshanaa Karupathevan in straight games. For the second consecutive day in Paris, the Indian star had to overcome a slow start before finding her rhythm to seal a hard-fought victory.
In a near-repeat of her opening match, Sindhu looked out of sorts in the first game, struggling with her opponent's aggressive play and inconsistent shot-making. The Malaysian looked to be in complete control, building a commanding 18-12 lead. However, Sindhu then produced a sensational fightback, reeling off nine of the next ten points to snatch the game 21-19 from the jaws of defeat.
Having completed the great escape, Sindhu carried all the momentum into the second game. The two-time Olympic medallist was a different player, racing to an early 5-1 lead and never looking back. She controlled the rallies with authority, dictating the pace from the net and the backline to comfortably close out the set 21-15 and wrap up the match in 42 minutes.
The five-time world medallist now faces her toughest test of the tournament so far. In the round of 16, she will go up against the formidable second seed and world number two, Wang Zhi Yi of China. The blockbuster clash will be a true measure of Sindhu's form as she continues her quest for a sixth medal at the prestigious event.
It was a successful day for the Indian contingent in Paris, as the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto also advanced to the pre-quarterfinals. The Indian duo secured a confident 21-11, 21-16 victory over Ireland's Joshua Magee and Moya Ryan to book their spot in the next round.
