PV Sindhu Advances to Malaysia Masters Semi-finals, Ashmita Chaliha Exits

Kuala Lumpur: India’s badminton sensation PV Sindhu showcased her prowess once again as she secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Malaysia Masters 2024 women’s singles event after a thrilling victory over China’s Han Yue.

In a hard-fought encounter at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Sindhu managed to edge past the top-seeded Han Yue in three sets, with the final scoreline reading 21-13, 14-21, 21-12. With this impressive win, Sindhu, currently ranked 15th globally, confirmed her place in the last four of the prestigious BWF Super 500 tournament.

The Indian shuttler will now face a formidable challenge in the semi-finals as she goes head-to-head against Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand, who holds the 20th spot in the latest world rankings.

However, it was a different tale for another Indian contender, Ashmita Chaliha, whose journey in the women’s singles category came to an end in the quarter-finals. Chaliha, ranked 53rd internationally, faced a tough defeat against China’s Zhang Yi Man, the sixth seed in the tournament.

In a match lasting 30 minutes, Chaliha succumbed to a straight-game loss with a scoreline of 21-10, 21-15 against her higher-ranked opponent. Despite her exit from the tournament, Chaliha’s earlier remarkable victory over USA’s Beiwen Zhang in the pre-quarterfinals highlighted her potential.

With Chaliha’s exit, Sindhu remains the sole Indian contender in the Malaysia Masters 2024, carrying the hopes of the nation as she aims for glory in the semi-finals.