Kuala Lumpur, Jan 10 (NationPress) P.V. Sindhu admitted that she allowed the match to slip through her fingers after failing to capitalize on an early advantage against her Chinese rival, Wang Zhiyi, in the women's singles semifinal of the Malaysia Open. Her remarkable journey in the tournament concluded on Saturday with a straight-games defeat to the World No. 2 at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.

Sindhu lost 16-21, 15-21 to the Chinese player, missing the chance to exact revenge for her defeat in last year’s final. This loss also marked the end of India’s campaign in this season's inaugural Super 1000 tournament.

The two-time Olympic medallist entered the match as an underdog and found it challenging to maintain her rhythm against the assertive Chinese athlete. Wang consistently pressured Sindhu into making baseline errors with her offensive tactics, gaining control of crucial exchanges and sealing the match in under an hour.

Although the final score reflected a straight-game loss, Sindhu felt the match was more intense than it appeared. “At this level, every game is challenging, and points won’t come easily,” Sindhu remarked post-match. “There were long rallies, and overall, it was a good game, even if it ended in two sets. She played well today.”

Sindhu expressed disappointment over relinquishing a strong position in the second game, where she led 11-6 at the mid-game break before Wang fought back to equalize at 13-13. “At 11-6, I should have secured two or three consecutive points to keep the lead,” she noted. “But in matches like these, you can’t expect it to be straightforward even when ahead.”

This semifinal marked Sindhu’s first appearance at a major tournament in 14 months and her initial competition since returning from injury, leaving her optimistic despite the setback. She indicated that her performance had bolstered her confidence for the upcoming Indian Open, where she will compete on home turf.

“This tournament was beneficial for me. It’s essential to rest now and prepare for the India Open. Starting the season with such a performance gives me immense confidence and motivation, especially after my injury,” Sindhu stated.

She also suggested that the Malaysia Open could signal the start of a strong comeback season. “I believe it’s crucial to maintain this momentum and build on my confidence,” she expressed, hopeful about the rest of the year.

The Indian star will now redirect her attention to the India Open 2026, set to commence on Tuesday at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.