After returning to her room at three in the morning, feeling tired and sleep-deprived, P.V. Sindhu was preparing to take the court by eight in the morning, which meant participating in three matches within 18 hours. Despite giving her all in the Asian Games under such a demanding schedule, her run ended in the quarterfinals against Chen Yufei from China.
The two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu started the tournament brilliantly, winning the first match with a score of 21-11. However, Chen managed to come back into the game, winning the second match 21-18, leveling the score. In the decisive match, the Chinese athlete won 21-10, thus ending Sindhu's campaign at the Asian Games in the quarterfinals.
After the loss, Sindhu was most concerned about the match she felt she could have won. She noted that the crucial moments were in her hands, but the opportunity slipped away. Sindhu shared her feelings, saying: 'I needed some time to put this into words. My campaign at the Asian Games is over, and it hurts. I keep thinking about those three points that could have sealed the quarterfinal.'
She also admitted that the long and exhausting rallies at critical moments had an impact. A similar situation occurred during her recent campaign in China. Sindhu emphasized that although the pain of defeat is fresh, her focus is forward, as she knows where she needs to improve her skills, and her team has already started working on it.
For Sindhu, these Asian Games were not just another tournament; it was her fourth campaign since her first participation in the Asian Games in 2014. Over these 12 years, she has played countless matches for India and achieved many significant successes. Therefore, she does not want one painful result to overshadow her entire journey.
She added: 'There is reason to be proud. From my first Asian Games in 2014 to these current quarterfinals, I have given everything for India for 12 years. I want to allow myself to feel that. One painful result cannot define a journey that means so much to me.'
In Sindhu's words, the pain of defeat was palpable, but even more evident was the thirst for victory. Even at 31, she considers her desire to give everything on the court her greatest strength. She stated: 'I am sad, but that's normal. I'm glad that it still means so much to me that it causes such pain. I still want it. I still give everything on the court. That feeling drives me forward.'
A key aspect of this defeat is not only the mental but also the physical strain. She recounted: 'Three matches in 18 hours. I got back at three in the morning, and in the morning I was out again at 8:30. It took its toll.'
Despite this, she was disappointed because the pre-Asian Games camp had instilled in her confidence that she could achieve something greater. Sindhu said: 'But after the camp, I had every reason to believe I could achieve something more. I wanted much more.'
Thus, it is not only the pain of losing in the quarterfinals, but also the pain of shattered hopes that she brought to this tournament. Nevertheless, she did not forget her fans who stayed up late watching and supporting her at every point. She thanked them, noting that she wanted those last three points for all of them.
Despite the defeat, fatigue, and disappointment, Sindhu's story does not end here. Her final message may be the strongest part of this entire journey: 'I will go again.'