Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships in New Delhi after overcoming Canada’s Zhang Wen Yu 21-16, 21-17 in 34 minutes on Wednesday.
The ninth-seeded Indian started strongly at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, winning the opening four points before Zhang settled into the contest. Sindhu maintained a slender advantage through the opening exchanges and led 11-9 at the interval.
Zhang continued to challenge the Indian after the break, but Sindhu remained composed as the game entered its closing stages. The Indian opened up a 19-15 lead and wrapped up the first game 21-16 in 16 minutes.
The second game was more closely contested, with Zhang refusing to allow Sindhu to establish control. The Canadian levelled the score at 9-9 before taking an 11-9 advantage into the interval.
Sindhu responded strongly after the break, producing a five-point run to regain momentum and move ahead. Zhang continued to fight, but the Indian held her nerve in the closing stages to seal the game 21-17 and complete the straight-games victory.
Sindhu will next face a significantly tougher challenge in third-seeded Chinese shuttler Wang Zi Yi for a place in the quarterfinals.
Wang booked her place in the last 16 earlier on Wednesday with a 21-16, 21-9 victory over Malaysia’s Karuoathevan Letshanaa.
Sindhu’s progression came on a positive day for India in men’s singles as well, with Ayush Shetty reaching the pre-quarterfinals after defeating Sri Lanka’s Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-8, 21-10 in just 26 minutes.
The focus now shifts to Sindhu’s last-16 encounter against Wang, with the Indian looking to continue her campaign on home soil.