PV Sindhu crashes out of Thailand Open 2022, faces defeat against Chen Yu Fei in Semi-finals

Star Indian shutter PV Sindhu faced defeat against China's Chen Yu Fei in the semifinals of the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament on Saturday. Sindhu lost the match in straight games.

India's two-time Olympic medalist lost 17-21,16-21 against the defending champion. The game lasted for 43 minutes. Chen will take on the winner of the second semifinals. 

Semifinals matchup sees Chen Yu Fei take on Pusarla V. Sindhu .#ThailandOpen2022 #BWFWorldTour pic.twitter.com/iDyFUyC43I

— BWF (@bwfmedia) May 21, 2022

Sindhu, seeded sixth, enjoyed a 6-4 head-to-head count coming into the match but she was not at her usual self against the Chinese, who dished out an aggressive badminton to come up trumps against the Indian. 

The 26-year-old from Hyderabad had lost to Chen the last time they faced off at the 2019 BWF World Tour Finals. After an initial 3-3 battle, Sindhu was lagging 7-11 at the interval in the first game. Things didn't change much as Chen continued to dominate the rallies and eventually held five game points. Sinhu saved two before handing the opening game to her Chinese rival. 

The world number 7 Indian produced a better show in the second game, leading 6-3 before moving into the break with a narrow two-point cushion. But the Chinese world number 4 soon tightened her game and turned the tables, moving to a 15-12 advantage. 

Sindhu couldn't stop the run of the play as Chen eventually grabbed four match points and converted it comfortably. Sindhu, who has won two Super 300 titles this season at the Syed Modi International and Swiss Open, will next compete at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 scheduled to be held in Jakartka from June 7 to 12.