Malaysia Masters 2024 Final, highlights: PV Sindhu loses 21-16, 5-21, 16-21 to China’s Wang Zhi Yi

A good run for Sindhu though as she prepares for the upcoming Paris Olympics. 

Malaysia Masters 2024: Sindhu’s title drought continues as she loses to China’s Wang in final

Two-time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu lost to Wang Zhi Yi of China in the Malaysia Masters finals on Sunday.

Terrific performance by the second seed Wang Zhi Yi. Her superb return game and swiftness was unmatched by PV Sindhu who had her moments in the first and third game. Sindhu was hurt by her error in judgements and some poor luck. 

Sindhu goes long and isn’t able to keep the shuttle inside the court. An absolutely brilliant comeback by Wang after being 3-11 down at one point in third game. 

Long shot by Wang, Sindhu leaves it as out but referee calls it in. Sindhu challenges and wins it. Sindhu is still in. 

Wang has been brilliant in a her return game but Sindhu keeps the fight going. 

There’s not much Sindhu can do now but to go for the attack but the luck hasn’t been her way in the last two games. 

Sindhu errs again on the net and Wang takes a four-point lead. 

Sindhu is visibly tired. Wang has been very smart in the way she has worked Sindhu in the last 10 minutes. 

Sindhu wins this point. Mixed caution with aggression in this long rally. Wang isn’t able to get past net, returning Sindhu’s down the line smash. 

Some brilliant display of how quality return game by Wang. Sindhu isn’t able to get past her. Two point lead for the Chinese. 

Ties! Sindhu tries to power hit it in the middle but ends up hitting at the net. Sindhu under pressure now. 

A brilliant comeback by Wang. One point lead now only for Sindhu and Wang control the second half of this third game. 

Both players looking to contain the rally. Wang hits long, an error of judgement by Sindhu on the backline. 

Wang errs again as she hits outside the sideline. Sindhu still has a five-point buffer. 

Sindhu is still trying to make sure she hits her power shots whenever possible. Wang isn’t able to return this time. 

Brilliant returns from Wang but Sindhu is keeping up in the rally. Wang takes advantage of a tired Sindhu. Five straight points for the Chinese. 

Wang is staging a comeback of sorts. Sindhu isn’t able to return well. 

In a bid to be aggressive, Sindhu errs as she tries to smash down the court and but hits it a touch to wide. 

Sindhu continues to keep Wang on back court. A brilliant rally and Wang has the last laugh. A 56-shot rally!

Sindhu takes the lead at halfway stage! A superb start to the decider game. A good buffer as well. 

Sindhu continues to control the rally and the game. A middle of the court smash and Wang has no answers. 

Two down the court smashes by Sindhu but Wang returns well. A long rally and Wangs errs as she hits the net. 

Wang pushes Sindhu on backfoot with a smash. The Indian though returns well and recovers on time but ends up hitting the net.

Wang attacks but Sindhu is defending well. An absolutely brilliant cross court smash by Sindhu to end the rally. 

Looks like Sindhu has actually forgotten about the last game. Great comeback after that drubbing. 

Sindhu is in a completely different Rythm now. Charging Wang and goes for the attacking strokes. 

But Sindhu is making sure she continues to attack on the body. Another winner has Wang on all fours. 

But Wang answers back. Sindhu tries to continue her attacking game but the return from the Chinese player was much better as she finishes with a cross court smash. 

Third game. 

Wang to serve. Sindhu back with her attacking game. Power shot on the body rattles Wang. 

Forgettable game for Sindhu. Ends it with another error, a power shot landing outside the sideline. 

Finally, serve switches for Sindhu as Wang isn’t able to return a drop. 

The error in judgement has also been a problem in this game for Sindhu. 

Wang hasn’t had to do much in this game as Sindhu continues to err. 

Nothing working for Sindhu in this game. The return quality has dropped. Too many errors. 

A longer rally. Sindhu keeps it simple. Containing the rally and Wangs ends up hitting too long outside the backline. 

Sindhu goes for a crosscourt power shot and but hits it way outside the line. Wang leads 3-11 now. Sindhu has lost all her reviews. 

Wang continues to increase her lead. Sindhu has no response to the quick-feet from China. 

Long rallies continue. Wangs hits one and it lands on the line. Sindhu challenges though but the review is unsuccessful. 

Wang isn’t giving any breathing space to Sindhu, who continues to err. 

Wang is now controlling the game. Wang is keeping it simple. Keeping Sindhu on backfoot. 

Another error by Sindhu. Wang has the early two-point lead now. The rallies have mostly revolved around power shots now. 

Sindhu makes a comeback as this time its Wang who errs. Long shots and Wang goes for a power hit but hits at nets. 

Second game. 

Wang serves. Long rally filled with plenty of long shots. Sindhu errs and Wang takes early lead. 

Sindhu wins the first game as Wang is unable to return past net. 21-16 for Sindhu!

Wang had Sindhu on the backfoot in this rally but somehow manages to err as she hits it long and it falls outside backline. 

Sindhu loses two points on the trot. Wang is very much in the game especially with her serving. 

A good rally and Sindhu wins this time. Long shots and no one wanted to play that risky hit. Sindhu contains well and Wang loses the serve. 

Wang is coming back into the game. Last two rallies has Sindhu on the backfoot with some power shots by Wang. 

Wang tries to serve long but errs as the shuttle falls way behind the line. 

Sindhu has upped her power game in the last 10 minutes or so. Attacking Wang’s body and the 24-year-old from China isn’t able to return well. 

Sindhu finally errs. Another attempted power hit but it goes outside the side line. 

Sindhu is returning well, moving Wang across the court. Wang hits one long and ends up getting out. She challenges but referee confirms it is out. Sindhu is controlling the game.

Change in shuttle as Sindhu serves after short break. Quick shots on the body by Sindhu and Wangs isn’t able to control her return. 

Sindhu smashes this time. A cross-court smash and Wang has to dive to reach the shuttle. She hits it but couldn’t go past net. Sindhu takes a half-time lead.

Sindhu keeping Wang back. Surprises with power shots as well but Wang is ready to tackle. Sindhu ends up hitting too long and is outside. 

Sindhu continues with her long shot tactic. Her height helps as Wang has to hit too far from Sindhu’s reach and ends up hitting out. 

Wang comes back after dropping two points. Powers her shot just past Sindhu’s reach down the court. 

Terrific defence by Sindhu this time. Wang attacks her on the body but Sindhu keeps it going. Wang surprises with a cross-court drop but it lands just outside. 

Wang with another smash. Sindhu tries to move her on all four corners of the court but to less effect. 

Another longer rally. Sindhu keeping shots long. Wang is quick on her feet and Sindhu nets. 

Sindhu has comeback well in the last two rallies. Wang serves with 3-3, Sindhu hits long and Wang nets on the return. 

Long rally for the third point. Sindhu tries to contain Wang with long shots and smashes down the court to get her first point of the game. 

Wang to serve first. Sindhu returns high and Wang smashes it down the earn first point. 1-0. 

Sindhu and Wang are here at the Axiata Arena - Court 1. The players are warming up. 

Big game for Sindhu. It has been a while since she has won a title or even qualify for the final. 

Scores will read Sindhu-Wang for the game updates. 

Japan’s Iwanaga and Nakanishi pair has beaten Korean pair of Lee and Shin 17-21, 21-19, 21-18. 

The women singles final will be played right after the ongoing women doubles final between Iwanaga-Nakanishi and Lee-Shin concludes. Approximate start time 11:45 AM IST. 

Well, the women doubles match has stretched to the third set that means Sindhu will have to wait a bit longer for her game to start. 

Sindhu had lost to Wang at the Arctic Open last year but has defeated the Chinese twice in three meetings.

China’s Wang Zhi Yi, ranked seventh, was the second seed coming into the tournament. 

- beat Aakarshi Kashyap 24-22, 21-13 in round of 32 

- beat Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo 21-10, 21-11 in round of 16

- beat Gao Fang Jie 23-21, 21-17 in quarterfinal 

- beat Zhang Yi Maan 21-9, 21-11 in semifinal

P.V. Sindhu, ranked 15th, was the fifth seed coming into the tournament. She hasn’t won a title in the last two years - she had won the 2022 Singapore Open and finished runner-up at Madrid Spain Masters last year.

beat Kirsty Gilmour 21-17, 21-16 in round of 32 

beat Sim Yu Jin 21-13, 12-21, 21-14 in round of 16

beat Han Yue 21-13, 14-21, 21-12 in quarterfinal

beat Busanan Ongbamrungphan 13-21, 21-16, 21-12 in semifinal

The Malaysia Masters 2024 will be live streamed on Jio Cinema app and website. 

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the Malaysia Masters 2024 women singles final between PV Sindhu and Wang Zhi Yi in Kuala Lampur. Stay tuned for the live updates.