October 18, 2024: PV Sindhu, India’s two-time Olympic medallist, displayed incredible resilience and determination to make a stunning comeback against China’s Han Yue and advance to the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open in Odense. Ranked world number 18, Sindhu lost the first game but bounced back to win 18-21, 21-12, 21-16 in a thrilling one-hour and three-minute contest.
After a tightly fought first game, where Han gained a crucial advantage with a five-point streak and eventually won despite Sindhu’s late push, Sindhu turned the tables in the second game. She applied pressure from the outset, dominating to comfortably level the match.
The third and final game was a closely contested affair. Han, the world number 7, who has won the Hong Kong and Arctic Opens this year, led by four points at the mid-game interval. However, Sindhu mounted a remarkable comeback, winning four consecutive points and surging ahead at the critical moment. With the score at 16-15 in Han’s favor, Sindhu powered through, winning the final six points in a row to secure victory.
This win improved Sindhu’s head-to-head record against Han to 7-1 and kept her hopes alive in the Denmark Open. Her next challenge in the quarterfinals will be either world number 8 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung or Denmark’s own Mia Blichfeldt.
Sindhu remains the last Indian player in the tournament, with Lakshya Sen and Malvika Bansod having exited in the first round.
