Sindhu cites lack of patience after World Championships exit to Wang Zhi Yi in New Delhi

P. V. Sindhu was knocked out of the World Championships by China’s Wang Zhi Yi in New Delhi on August 20, 2026, and said a lack of patience cost her the match.

Sindhu, a five-time World Championship medallist chasing an unprecedented sixth title, described her own impatience as the deciding factor. "I should have been patient overall because I can’t see any loopholes otherwise in between the points. Specially in the end, I should have been a little more patient. That’s what I can see from today’s game and in the last 3-4 points. The match was going very good and all three games were almost equal. Should have converted the points but that’s how it is."

The contest turned sharp in the closing stages of the third game when Wang took two medical time-outs for cramps. Sindhu acknowledged uncertainty about those stoppages and said she needed to remain focused: "I don’t know if she’s injured or not, maybe that’s her strategy or her way of doing it, you never know. Maybe that’s her gameplay but I had to be very focused and very patient and focus on every point. The last three points just changed everything, I think it was just her day today."

Wang maintained her physical issues were genuine, saying: "My leg was injured, I had to push very hard. The match was very intense, yesterday’s match was also very tough, that’s why I had cramps in my thighs." She added she understood Sindhu’s reaction and defended her decision to continue: "I can understand why she said that. She is aware about those tactics. She knows that these kind of things can be used but at that time, I was really injured. my thought is, no matter what, as long as I can move, I won’t give up. Even then, I tried to bring out my best performance."

Sindhu reflected on the broader lesson from the loss and signalled her intent to respond to the setback. "You learn, you lose a lot, you win a lot. When you lose, you need to deal with it and bounce back stronger," she said.