China Open: Indian hopes crash as Gao Fangjie stuns PV Sindhu in quarters

Fuzhou: The Indian challenge at China Open Super Series came to an end on Friday as star shuttler PV Sindhu crashed out of the tournament after receiving a straight set defeat from her Chinese opponent Gao Fangjie.

Defending champion and second-seeded Sindhu was shocked by world no. 89 Fangjie and lost 11-21, 10-21 to the Chinese shuttler in a match which lasted over 37 minutes.

The game started with a neck and neck fight between the two players but the 19-year-old Chinese dominated the game later and made the Olympic silver medallist struggle a lot on court by firing quick returns and range of shots.

Sindhu offered the lead to her opponent as she failed to judge the Chinese's deceptive shots.

Fangjie pulled the first game 11-8 and clinched it 21-11 later by winning consecutive points against the Indian. The second game started with 7-1 in Fangjie's favour.

Sindhu, 22, failed to cope up with her opponent's speed and looked quite exhausted on the court. Fangjie, however, showed no mercy over the tired Indian and won the ruthless game 21-9.

Sindhu was the lone Indian survivor in China Open as Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal crashed out of the tournament after losing 21-18, 21-11 defeat from World No 4 Akane Yamaguchi.

In men's singles events, HS Prannoy, who won the national title last week, also bowed out from the series after slumping to straight games defeat against Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu.

Prannoy put up a tough fight after getting off to a bad start against Cheuk Yiu, but he eventually suffered a 19-21, 17-21 defeat in a thrilling second-round clash that lasted 42 minutes.