Sindhu's dream of a third medal ended in the semi-slash with Chen Yu Fei, the current Olympic champion from China. The first game saw Sindhu dominate, taking it 21-11, but the Chinese star kept her on her toes, pulling the second game into a tight 21-18 finish. By the time the third set began, Chen had already built a 10-7 lead and never looked back.
The clash was a testament to Sindhu's relentless aggression and Chen's strategic counterplay. After a grueling schedule that saw Sindhu play three matches in 24 hours, the Indian shuttler was visibly drained during the final rally, where she only managed three points in the last ten.
Across the board, India’s hopes dimmed as Unnati Hooda also fell to world No. 3 Akane Yamaguchi, 16-21, 21-14, 17-21. Hooda fought back after a rough opening, but Yamaguchi's experience proved too much, and the Japanese secured the win with a decisive 21-17 decider.
The doubles line‑up tasted disappointment too, with the women's pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand going down 18-21, 9-21 to Malaysia's top seeds, and the mixed pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto losing 14-21, 21-18, 18-21 to the Chinese world No. 1 duo. Only the men's team managed the podium, taking bronze in a hard-fought match against Singapore.
India's badminton contingent now turns its focus to the final day where the men's team will battle for a second medal, while the national federation looks at rebuilding momentum for future Asian Games.