01 August,2021 07:13 AM IST | Tokyo | PTI
PV Sindhu reacts after losing a point against Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying on Saturday. Pic/AFP
Reigning world champion PV Sindhu's hopes of securing India's first ever Olympic gold in badminton came crashing down as she slumped to a straight-game defeat against World No. 1 Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the women's singles semi-finals here on Saturday.
The silver-medallist from the Rio Games, however, remained in the hunt for a bronze and will be competing against China's He Bing Jiao in the third place play-off at Musashino Forest Plaza on Sunday.
One of the most consistent players, who has claimed medals in all big-ticket events in the last five years, Sindhu couldn't counter Tai Tzu's deception with her aggressive game, going down 18-21, 12-21 in a 40-minute clash here.
"I'm a bit sad because it's the semi-finals, but I tried my best, it's just not my day. I fought until the end," said Sindhu after the match.
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"In the second game I gave away a huge lead but still I was fighting back because you never know, it can change at any moment. It's the Olympics, you have to fight until the last point and I have done that.
"I was prepared for her skills, so I don't think that troubled me a lot. At the end of the day the level of the semi-finals is going to be really high - you can't expect easy points. I just couldn't be on the winning side."
This is Sindhu's 14th loss to the Taiwanese second seed in 19 meetings, having also lost to her in the last three face-offs. On her bronze medal match, Sindhu said: "It's going to be a bit sad. I need to go back and relax and prepare for tomorrow [Sunday] because it is not over yet. I still have a chance.
"I hope I can give my best. It just wasn't my day, but I'm going to try it again tomorrow."
Also Read: Tokyo Olympics: PV Sindhu enters semifinals after beating Japan's Yamaguchi
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