A stunned silence enveloped the stadium as PV Sindhu’s Olympic journey came to an abrupt end. The two-time medalist was ousted from the Paris Olympics in a shocking pre-quarterfinal defeat against China’s He Bingjiao.

The Hyderabad-born shuttler, who had topped her group, was unable to match the intensity of her opponent. Despite her valiant efforts, Sindhu succumbed to the Chinese player in straight games, with scores of 21-19, 21-14.

The loss marks a significant setback for Indian badminton, as Sindhu was the last remaining hope for a medal in the singles category. The nation will now turn its attention to Lakshya Sen, who is India’s sole representative in the men’s singles.