India’s campaign at the Indonesia Masters came to an end on Friday after both PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen were knocked out of the tournament. Sindhu bowed out in the quarter-finals after a straight-game loss to top seed Chen Yu Fei.
Her match was full of drama as she was shown a red card midway through the second game following a heated exchange with officials. The decision was later overturned, but Sindhu was unable to mount a full comeback.
Sindhu’s heartbreaking quarter-final exit
Sindhu crashed out of the Indonesia Masters after losing in straight games to top seed Chen Yu Fei. Playing the quarter-final in Jakarta on Friday, January 23. She went down 13-21, 17-21.
The first game was largely one-sided, with Chen attacking Sindhu’s backhand using half-smashes before switching to powerful forehand smashes that left the Indian struggling to stay in rallies. She briefly found success by targeting space in Chen’s forecourt backhand side, but the opening game had already slipped away.
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The second game began on a more even note. Sindhu played with greater intent, using cross-court drops and sharper angles to stay ahead early. However, momentum shifted after she lost two reviews in quick succession. While trailing 12-17 and with no reviews left, she protested a close call, earning a yellow card. Soon after, she was shown a red card for delaying play before receiving serve.
The decision sparked visible anger, forcing the match referee to intervene. The red card was eventually overturned. What followed was a brief but fierce fightback as she closed the gap to 17-18. Despite the late surge, she could not sustain the push and lost the second game 17-21.
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Lakshya Sen also bows out
India’s challenge ended soon after, with Lakshya Sen losing to young Thai shuttler Panitchapon Teeraratsakul on Court 2, right beside Sindhu’s match.
Lakshya was tested by the 21-year-old’s relentless pace and attacking play. Despite showing strong defence, the seventh seed was repeatedly put under pressure by sharp smashes. Ranked 12th in the world, Lakshya lost 18-20, 20-22 to Panitchapon, ranked 44th.
With both Sindhu and Lakshya exiting, India’s run at the Indonesia Masters came to a close on a dramatic and intense day of badminton.
