Sindhu loses to Wang Zhi Yi in World Championship 2026 round of 16

PV Sindhu’s run at the BWF World Championships 2026 ended in the round of 16 after a three-game loss to China’s Wang Zhi Yi on Thursday. Wang, the third seed, won 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 in what was described as an “epic” match. The defeat was Sindhu’s first loss to a Chinese player in World Championships, snapping an eight-match winning streak. Wang controlled the early stages of the first game, moving ahead from 7-7. Sindhu responded after the break with sharper net play and forced a deciding game. The final game featured long exchanges, including a critical 54-shot rally at 18-17, before Wang closed out the win. Wang will face Denmark’s Line Christophersen, who advanced by beating Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani. The result was published Aug. 20, 2026.