PV Sindhu loses out in the BWF World Tour finals against South Korea’s An Seyoung

Indian Badminton star PV Sindhu lost the final of the BWF World Tour Finals to South Korea’s An Seyoung in straight games 21-16 21-12. Sindhu started the game defensively and gave her opponent an early advantage to take authority in the game. However, Sindhu fought back pretty strongly at the end of the first game but it was a little too late for the Indian shuttler as she lost the first game 16-21.

The South Korean shuttler was way calmer than Sindhu and once she got the initiative in the game she never allowed her opponent to get back.

In the second game, Sindhu carried forward his momentum from the first game and started the game as equals. But the mid-break somewhat broke her momentum as she lost her footing in the game. That slight blip was enough for An Seyoung to win the second game and close out the finals.

Overall it was a good outing for the two time Olympic medallist as she defeated Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-15 15-21 21-19 in the semifinals. Sindhu had won the tournament three years back in 2018 and this was her third final appearance of this tournament.

Earlier in the BWF World Tour Finals, Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen’s daunting run to the last four came to an end as he lost to Danish superstar Viktor Axelsen. Just like Sindhu, Lakshya also started slowly and that gave Axelsen a lot of room to take lead in the first game. However, the Indian youngster did show some fight with a couple of good points but it was simply not enough. Axelsen’s massive frame and speed off the shuttle makes him a very dominant force. The reigning Olympic champion and World No. 1 beated Lakshya Sen in straight games 21-13, 21-11 wrapping the semifinals clash in only 39 minutes.

Axelsen was all set to face Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the BWF World Tour finals clash. There again the Danish shuttler reign supreme and was crowned champions. Axelsen won the summit clash 21-12, 21-8  in a very dominant fashion.

Axelsen also won the BWF Men’s Player of the Year as he has been sensational since Barcelona Masters from 2020 onwards.