Paris, August 29, 2025 : PV Sindhu’s dream of creating history at the BWF World Championships ended in heartbreak on Friday, as the Indian badminton star bowed out in the quarter-finals after a gripping battle against Indonesia’s Putri Wardani.

Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist and five-time Worlds medalist, was aiming to become the first women’s singles shuttler to clinch six medals at the prestigious event. However, she fell short 14-21, 21-13, 16-21 in a tense match that lasted one hour and eight minutes at the Adidas Arena in Paris.

The 29-year-old fought valiantly after losing the opening game, roaring back with her trademark smashes and aggressive cross-court winners to dominate the second. But her 23-year-old opponent, ranked World No. 9, displayed superior discipline and composure in the deciding game, pulling away in the closing stages to seal her spot in the semi-finals.

The defeat was especially poignant as Sindhu was bidding to deliver a medal on National Sports Day. Still, her performance in Paris underscored a resurgence at a time when many had begun to question her future at the highest level.

Just a day earlier, Sindhu had stunned World No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China in straight games, showing glimpses of the form that once made her a dominant force on the women’s circuit. That victory, coupled with her aggressive displays through the tournament, reflected the positive influence of her partnership with Indonesian coach Muhammad Irwansyah. From the sidelines, Irwansyah urged patience and clarity, helping Sindhu rediscover her attacking rhythm.

Sindhu’s campaign in Paris stood in sharp contrast to her recent struggles. Coming into the Worlds, she had endured more than five first-round exits this season, raising doubts over whether she could still match strides with the new generation of shuttlers. Paris provided a resounding answer: the hunger, fitness, and fighting spirit remain very much intact.

Her quarter-final clash highlighted both her strengths and the challenges ahead. Wardani started with intensity, moving Sindhu around with sharp placement and finishing rallies decisively at the net. After conceding the first game, Sindhu unleashed a flurry of attacking strokes in the second, racing to a 16-6 lead before closing it out 21-13. The decider, however, saw Wardani regain control, forcing Sindhu into tiring rallies and exploiting small errors at crucial moments.

Though the Indian matched her opponent point-for-point early in the third, the Indonesian’s youthful energy and precision proved decisive. Leading 11-9 at the interval, Wardani extended her advantage and held her nerve to close the match despite Sindhu’s determined resistance.

While the campaign ended without a medal, Sindhu’s performances in Paris will boost her confidence as she looks ahead to upcoming challenges. She showed she can still push the world’s best to the edge and that her journey is far from over.

For fans, the sight of Sindhu celebrating points with her trademark roars was a reminder: the champion still burns bright.