Malaysia Masters 2024 Final Highlights: PV Sindhu goes down in 3 games as Wang Zhi Yi scripts epic fightback (2024)

Malaysia Masters final PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 16-21 Wang Zhi Yi: Highlights -- VIDEO

Malaysia Masters final PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 16-21 Wang Zhi Yi: Here's what Sindhu had to say after the defeat today (via BWF)

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 16-21 Wang Zhi Yi

After an 88-minute epic on Saturday to win the semifinal, a 79-minute defeat in the final today. PV Sindhu eventually ran out of steam at the end of a supremely physically tiring week. Fitness-wise, Sindhu can take a lot of positives. And also, how well she was able to start the deciders is another definite positive.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 16-21 Wang Zhi Yi

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 16-21 Wang Zhi Yi

WANG WINS IT: The Asian Champion scripts a stunning turnaround from 3-11 down in Game 3 to win the title. Singapore Open 2022, Sindhu defeated Wang to win the title. And this time, it's the reverse at Malaysia Masters.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 15-20 Wang Zhi Yi

Is that the match for Wang? The shuttle is called in on the sideline and Sindhu's old friend HawkEye comes to her rescue there. Good challenge, and two match points saved.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 15-20 Wang Zhi Yi

Sindhu with two good smashes that Wang somehow returns but the Indian saves one match point with a good backhand tap into the empty corner.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 14-20 Wang Zhi Yi

SIX MATCH POINTS FOR WANG. A brilliant crosscourt forehand drive.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 14-19 Wang Zhi Yi

Sindhu tries to go for the line to Wang's backhand and it is wide. Looks like the fight has fizzled out here.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 14-18 Wang Zhi Yi

Oh dear, a tame backhand into the net from Sindhu and it is 4-point lead for Wang. Sensational turnaround.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 14-17 Wang Zhi Yi

Too much power on Sindhu's drive from the backcourt and it sails long. And another mini-long rally where Sindhu tried to take pace off at the net, goes Wang's way. This feels like a decisive 3-point lead.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 14-15 Wang Zhi Yi

That point was desperately needed for Sindhu. The long rallies haven't gone her way since the break. And she needed one to fall her way. Stays patient for a long time, and pulls the trigger finally on a smash to Wang's forehand and it goes wide.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 13-15 Wang Zhi Yi

Oh wow! Wang with a stunning backhand defensive shot when it looked for all money that Sindhu had a winner there. And block turns out to be the winner.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 13-14 Wang Zhi Yi

Sindhu with a little warmup routine. She knows this is getting away from her. She is trying to loosen herself up. Wang in the lead!

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 13-13 Wang Zhi Yi

Sindhu's defensive shots from the backcourt are just not good enough at the moment to peg Wang back. The quality has gone, perhaps the tiredness factor and Wang is putting away winners for fun. Sindhu tries to play the angles next rally, keeping it flat and slow but Wang wins that rally too. From 3-11 to 13-13!

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 13-11 Wang Zhi Yi

Sindhu putting in a bit more effort into her tosses and clears and drives... but Wang wins another long rally with a brilliant push to the backcourt where the shuttle lands well in. Sindhu with a soft return next point and now Wang is just 2 points away

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 13-9 Wang Zhi Yi

Shivani Naik: That run of five straight points from Wang. Could that be the shift of momentum? It's at this stage that Sindhu's shot selection is tested most.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 12-8 Wang Zhi Yi

And finally the run comes to an end! Sindhu raises her left arm up as she plays a good smash wide enough from Wang, and the block is into the net.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 11-8 Wang Zhi Yi

ANOTHER BRUTAL RALLY: This is just one short of the other monster exchange we saw earlier. 55 shots this time, however Wang under bit more control and eventually Sindhu's defence is breached. Worrying signs for Sindhu from the far side again, she needs to end this streak of points.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 11-7 Wang Zhi Yi

Was that 56-shot rally a turning point? Sindhu struggling now in rallies.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 11-4 Wang Zhi Yi

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 11-3 Wang Zhi Yi

Once again this week, PV Sindhu makes a strong start to Game 3. Thrice in a row now! 11-3 against Wang now as they change ends. Now, to see if she can finish it off from the far side.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 10-3 Wang Zhi Yi

Brilliant brilliant rally. Wang with some sensational defensive work early on to stay in the point, then brings out some trickery at the net to catch Sindhu off guard but the Indian does enough to win the point. A huge roar next point again from Sindhu as she floors Wang with a crosscourt.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 7-2 Wang Zhi Yi

WHAT A RALLY! Brutal on both players, but both of them are trying to access all four corners. Eventually Sindhu plays a round-the-head forehand smash to Wang's backhand side and the diving block is no good from Wang. Sindhu is seemingly working extra hard from the near side to get as big a lead as possible before switching sides.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 6-2 Wang Zhi Yi

Good angle on a downward shot from Wang and it forces Sindhu to lift long. But Sindhu gets the serve right back on a service error from Wang. Sindhu gets a warning, presumably, for shouting in front of her opponent. Frowned upon in badminton. A terrific leave from Sindhu next point and this time she roars but legitimately if you will.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 4-1 Wang Zhi Yi

The intensity is up, the shot quality is up, the movement is sharp... and it is a really good start from Sindhu to start Game 3. A couple of lovely winners to Wang's backhand side.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 1-1 Wang Zhi Yi

A great kill at the net from Sindhu and a roar to go with it. A very tiny early sign that she was trying to save up. But Wang responds with a superb crosscourt half smash winner.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 5-21 Wang Zhi Yi

Game 2, Wang:Well, that was all too easy for the Asian champion. Even the arena seems to have gone a bit quiet. Sindhu perhaps played conservatively but how much will this scoreline affect her confidence in Game 3? Is she too spent already? Let's see, she has been starting deciders strongly this week so the next few minutes will tell.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 4-20 Wang Zhi Yi

Wow, this has been brutal. Wang with an unreturnable shot as the shuttle kisses the top of the tape and falls dead next to the net. SIXTEEN game points for Wang.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 4-17 Wang Zhi Yi

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 4-15 Wang Zhi Yi

Yeah at this point the decider seems imminent, Sindhu perhaps conserving for the decider. No big exertions with smashes. A couple of wild misses either flank of Wang, and this is heading to a quick finish.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 4-13 Wang Zhi Yi

Sindhu avoiding the clears and tosses here in that rally as much as she could, hitting with the drift perhaps. A lot of conscious downward strokes in that rally but Wang wins the point with a delicious drop shot herself.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 3-11 Wang Zhi Yi

Ah, Sindhu and her unsuccessful challenges! Another wild one from her, this was way out and she is now out of challenges. Wang takes a big lead into the interval but if Sindhu can find some momentum in the 2nd half, could be handy after the change of ends in the the decider.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 2-9 Wang Zhi Yi

Oh dear. Sindhu with a great lunge forward to return the shuttle and then follows that with a super block on a body smash but after all that, makes a soft error at the net. Wang with a super half smash winner and it is a HUGE lead at the moment.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 2-7 Wang Zhi Yi

There is probably not much drift in the arena in Malaysia, but Sindhu did win yesterday's match while starting from the near side as she did today. But the concern today will be, if Wang indeed takes the second game, Sindhu's fitness and freshness. Sindhu loses a review as Wang catches the backline again.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 1-5 Wang Zhi Yi

Unsurprisingly, Wang has started the second game better. Sindhu did win one long-ish rally but Wang has upped the pace. And is now starting to get her lengths right too. Sindhu lets the shuttle drop in well inside the backcourt! This has been happening a bit too frequently recently.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 Wang Zhi Yi

Shivani Naik: The body smash does the trick as Sindhu hits it into Wang Zhi Yi's rib length. Twice in the opening set, Sindhu was clever in the follow up to the body smash which Wang awkwardly returned. The next shot was neatly out of the Chinese player's reach. It's so nice to turn tables with tactics often used against you

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 21-16 Wang Zhi Yi

Game 1, PV SINDHU:And absolutely fitting that she seals the opening game with a body smash! It has worked like a treat for her. This time though she pounces on a loose service return and targets the left hip, instead of the right. Mixing things up!

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 20-16 Wang Zhi Yi

Wang has closed in in the last few rallies so Sindhu has let out roars of relief the last couple of points she has won. She now has game points.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 19-14 Wang Zhi Yi

Mihir Vasavda chips in: The way Sindhu is moving on the court gives me hope. Is this the best she's looked in the last year or so?

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 18-11 Wang Zhi Yi

Shivani Naik: What would Sindhu play if she was playing Sindhu? That's how she needs to think against Wang Zhi Yi. But she's cruising 15-10 with her down shots.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 17-10 Wang Zhi Yi

Hello body smash again! Sindhu has nailed it in the opening game. Another one targeting Wang's midriff. Oh, another one next point. This time Wang just about manages to get it back but Sindhu is waiting at the net for the kill.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 15-10 Wang Zhi Yi

Wang uses up a review. A loose net shot from the Chinese is then put away in a flash from Sindhu... she is running away with the opening game but Wang gets the serve back as Sindhu misses the sideline.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 13-9 Wang Zhi Yi

There's the body smash from Sindhu again.., the right hip that players always hope to target.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 11-9 Wang Zhi Yi

Shivani Naik: Wang drops to midcourt and halfway to net are going to trouble Sindhu as she keeps the Indian hanging and denies her net dominance. Sindhu can explore the body smashes much much more against the tall player when she gets elevation, though she gets to 11-9 with a neat, expansive cross hit. She's looking good in long rallies , the Indian.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 11-9 Wang Zhi Yi

Wang floored again, this time by a signature Sindhu crosscourt forehand smash winner. A good little lead for Sindhu going into the mid-game interval where coach Agus is waiting with his words of wisdom.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 10-9 Wang Zhi Yi

That might have been the longest rally of the match so far... well, indeed it is at 32 shots. Sindhu with a great pickup at the net to keep the point going but that's the solidity we expect from Wang, as she eventually draws the error out from the Indian.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 9-7 Wang Zhi Yi

If I had to predict how this match would have panned out, I'd have thought Wang would have more joy in the longer rallies and Sindhu would depend on quick, sharp points. Sindhu, in fact, has been strong in the rallies here. Another long one goes her way as Wang lifts one cross and wide.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 8-6 Wang Zhi Yi

Well, that should get Sindhu's adrenaline pumping! Super rally at 6-6. Sindhu staying strong on her defence (Tokyo-esque) as Wang kept targeting her body. And eventually Wang makes the error at the net. Sindhu follows that up with a super aggressive point, charging to the net and putting the shuttle away.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 6-6 Wang Zhi Yi

It's level on the scoreboard but early eye test suggests Wang is in the better rhythm at the moment. Sindhu yet to get going fully.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 6-4 Wang Zhi Yi

Wang is looking to paint the lines here early on. Not always about power. What brilliant placement on that body smash from PV Sindhu. Wang is technically one of the best around, and she was floored. Nice one.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 3-3 Wang Zhi Yi

Shivani Naik: At 1-2, an audible 'wwhoaa' from spectators as Sindhu smashes cross for her first point. Sunday mornings watching Indian shuttlers challenge for titles in far east arenas in Mays-Junes is a wonderful feeling. Always a hint of pre monsoon showers outside and pre-Oly titles inside the television

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 3-3 Wang Zhi Yi

A run of three straight points already for Sindhu (it took her forever to put such a run together against Busanan). A nice even start to this match.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu 0-1 Wang Zhi Yi

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu vs Wang Zhi Yi

Shivani Naik is here: The perfect Mera-wala-blue of Indian sport, this is what Sindhu has donned this week at Malaysia. Wang in black & blue too. The tall Chinese can be formidable with her Xuerui Li like game.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu vs Wang Zhi Yi

PV Sindhu wins the toss and chooses the side. Warm-up time.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu vs Wang Zhi Yi

The players are on court. The start is imminent.

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: What Sindhu had to say on Saturday (via BWF)

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu vs Wang Zhi Yi

Malaysia Masters final, LIVE SCORE: PV Sindhu vs Wang Zhi Yi