PV Sindhu was edged out by China’s Chen Yufei in the Asian Games quarter‑final, after a marathon day of play that saw her battle three singles matches in under 24 hours.
The Indian star clocked down a third‑round win that ran past midnight, then returned to the court the next afternoon for a showdown with Chen. The gap between her second and third games was a mere 30 minutes, leaving her no time to refuel or recover.
—"We literally slept really late and then came back in the morning," Sindhu said, her voice tinged with fatigue. "Recovery is the most important priority."
She also slammed the absence of Hawk‑Eye on Court 4, lamenting that close line calls had to be accepted without challenge. “There were no cameras, so when a shuttle fell outside the line and the judge gave it, I couldn’t challenge,” she explained. “Having a review system would give players a fighting chance.”
Unnati Hooda echoed Sindhu’s frustration, saying the schedule demanded more than one match a day and that the lack of recovery time could turn a good game into a loss. “I won’t blame my defeat on the timing, but the organizers should have managed the calendar better,” Hooda added.
With India’s medal tally still on the line, Sindhu’s exit means the nation will need to regroup fast. The next hurdle? A thrilling team final against the host nation, where every point counts.