India’s journey in the Uber Cup 2026 came to a disappointing close after a 0-5 defeat against China on Monday, April 27. The match began on a sour note for India when star player PV Sindhu fell to world No. 2 Wang Zhiyi. Sindhu had initially taken the lead but ultimately lost the tightly contested match with scores of 16-21, 21-19, and 19-21.
Earlier in the day, India secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Thomas Cup after a fantastic 5-0 victory over Australia. The women’s team began their tournament with a narrow 2-3 loss to Denmark but bounced back with a convincing 4-1 win over Ukraine. However, to advance further, they needed a win against China, making Sindhu’s early loss particularly damaging.
In her match, Sindhu started strong after rallying from an early deficit. She managed to level the first game at 9-9 and surged ahead to lead 11-9 at the break. With a mix of sharp net play and powerful smashes, she initially surged to a 14-10 lead. However, Wang responded impressively, making a comeback to win the first game.
In the second game, Sindhu came out with determination, leading 9-4 early on. Despite Wang’s rally to tie the game at 10-10, Sindhu held her nerve, ultimately taking the game with a powerful finish.
Entering the third game with momentum, Sindhu jumped to a quick 9-3 lead. She maintained her advantage, reaching 18-12 before Wang staged a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive points to level the score at 18-18. In a nail-biting finish, Wang took the match after Sindhu found the net on match point.
Sindhu’s defeat placed India in a tough situation. In the doubles match, the top-ranked Chinese pair of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning defeated India’s Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra in straight games, further solidifying China’s control over the tie.
India’s fate was sealed when Isharani Baruah lost her match against Chen Yu Fei, giving China an unassailable 3-0 lead. The final matches were now just a formality.
Tanisha Crasto and Kavipriya Selvam fought hard against Zhang Shuxian and Luo Xumin but lost in a close contest with scores of 21-10, 12-21, 19-21. Devika Sihag also put in a valiant effort against Xu Wenjing but ended up on the losing side with scores of 21-19, 17-21, and 10-21.
With this loss, India bid farewell to the tournament, reflecting on a challenging but competitive outing.
