Picture Credit: Twitter
PV Sindhu had tough luck in her Badminton Asia Championships match against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi as the Indian shuttler lost the match 1-2. After being 1-0 head at the end of the first game, Sindhu lost two consecutive games to secure herself a bronze medal. She lost the match 21-13, 19-21, 16-21.
However, the talking point in the match was a penalty point Sindhu was handed during the second game. In the middle of the second game, Sindhu was asked by the net umpire to hand the shuttle cock to Yamaguchi after the umpire felt Sindhu took too long to serve.
The 26-year-old did not look too pleased with the decision which also led to an argument with the match referee. Sindhu who is generally a cool customer was seen having an animated chat with the match referee and was seen vividly opposing the umpire's decision.
Watch the video here:
Redemption for Yamaguchi, agony for Sindhu
After clinching the first game 21-13 in just 16 minutes, Sindhu was also looking in great rhythm in the second game as well. Before the incident happened, she was leading 14-12. However, the argument between the two led to a momentum shift as Yamaguchi levelled the proceedings to force a decider. The Japnese shuttler found her rhythm and never let Sindhu regroup. She first claimed the second game 21-19 and then the match.
In the decider, Sindhu never found herself in a good position as she trailed from the beginning. On the other hand, Yamaguchi had five match points, which she duly converted and took the game 21-16. She also bettered her head-to-head record against Sindhu as she made it 9-13.
Meanwhile, with Sindhu's defeat to World No.2 Yamaguchi, India's challenge at the individual continental championship has ended. For Sindhu, it was her second bronze medal at the event as she had claimed a bronze in the 2014 Gimcheon edition.