Ace shuttler, PV Sindhu suffered a shocking first-round exit in the ongoing Korea Open on Wednesday. She went down 21-7, 22-24, 15-21 in the first round to USA badminton player Zhang Beiwen.
It was a second successive early defeat from the Indian shuttler after being crashed down in the China Open last week by Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.
Sindhu’s contest against the Zhang lasted one hour, with the American shuttler getting the better off Sindhu in the end. After winning the first game, Zhang came back strongly and won both the second and third game only to hand Sindhu a shocking defeat.
PV Sindhu became the only Indian badminton player to win World Championship gold last month. And, now making early exits in two successive competitions looks a bit shocking.
Furthermore, Sindhu’s coach resigning from her job has only added to her list of worries. The South Korean badminton coach Kim Ji Hyun who was roped in by the Badminton Association of India has resigned from her job citing personal issues.
The South Korean coach played a formidable role in helping her clinch the World Championship title. Unfortunately, Kim Ji Hyun had to rush back to New Zealand to take care of her husband who suffered a neuro stroke during the World Championship.
“It is true, Kim has resigned as her husband is pretty unwell. He suffered a kind of neuro stroke sometime during the World Championship. So she rushed back. She needs to take care of him as it will take around 4 to 6 months for him to recover,” India’s chief national coach Pullela Gopichand told PTI.
“It is unfortunate that Kim had to leave at this stage…and I wish her husband a quick recovery,” she said. “I had a good rapport with her and I know it will be a fresh start for me but it is something which is part of a sportsperson’s life. I will have to work harder and I am sure Gopi sir and the BAI will take care of everything.”
The Badminton Association of India would look to seek a new coach for Sindhu, given the fact that Tokyo Olympic isn’t too far away from now.
