Archive · 20 Aug 2026
PV Sindhu Questions Cramps After World Championships Exit
PV Sindhu lost a close badminton match to Wang Zhi Yi.
The match had three games, and Wang won the deciding game.
Near the end, Wang appeared to suffer painful cramps in both legs.
Sindhu said she could not know whether the cramps were a real injury or part of Wang’s strategy.
Wang said the cramps were genuine because she had pushed herself very hard.
Sindhu felt she needed to be more patient during the final points.
She also wants to improve her strokes after discussing the match with her coach.
The loss ended Sindhu’s hopes of winning a medal at this championship.
She still hopes to return stronger and win a sixth World Championships medal.
PV Sindhu lost 11-21, 21-15, 17-21 to China’s Wang Zhi Yi in the pre-quarterfinals.
Sindhu questioned whether Wang’s late-match cramps were genuine or part of a tactical approach.
Wang said the cramps were real and resulted from pushing herself during a demanding match.
Sindhu said greater patience and improved stroke-making could have changed the final points.
Despite the defeat, Sindhu plans to learn from the match and continue pursuing a sixth World Championships medal.
- Who
- PV Sindhu and China’s Wang Zhi Yi.
- What
- Wang defeated Sindhu in the pre-quarterfinals of the World Championships, while Sindhu questioned Wang’s late-match cramps.
- When
- The article identifies the event as the 2026 BWF World Championships.
- Where
- At the home World Championships; the specific location is not stated.
- Why
- Wang said she cramped after pushing herself during a difficult match, while Sindhu attributed her defeat partly to a lack of patience and stroke execution in the closing stages.
Sindhu’s View
Wang’s View
Whether the cramps were tactical
Sindhu’s View
Sindhu said she did not know whether Wang was injured and suggested the cramps might have been part of her game style, strategy or gameplay.
Wang’s View
Wang said the cramps were genuine injuries caused by the intensity of the match and her effort to keep going.
What decided the match
Sindhu’s View
Sindhu said she needed to be more patient in the last three or four points and believed the closing stages changed the result.
Wang’s View
Wang said her game plan worked against Sindhu’s fast attack and that she was proud of her performance.
- Result
- Wang Zhi Yi defeated PV Sindhu 11-21, 21-15, 17-21.
- Round
- Pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships.
- Late-match score
- The match was level at 16-16 after Wang received a medical timeout and later reached 17-17.
- Cramps dispute
- Sindhu said she could not know whether Wang’s cramps were genuine or tactical; Wang said they were real.
- Sindhu’s medals
- She has two Olympic medals and five World Championships medals: two bronze, two silver and one gold.
- Next focus
- Sindhu plans to discuss physical, mental and stroke-related improvements with her coach ahead of the Asian Games.
- Future goal
- Sindhu said she will continue pursuing a sixth World Championships medal.
