Shuttler Sindhu ousted from badminton Worlds

India’s rising badminton star PV Sindhu stunned Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China on Thursday to enter the world championship quarter-final in Jakarta.

Much later in the day, Hong Kong’s 13th seed Hu Yun upset Srikanth 14-21, 21-17, 23-21 in an hour and one minute while Danish seventh seed Viktor Axelsen defeated Prannoy 21-16, 19-21, 21-18 in 58 minutes to end the Indian male challenge at the annual event.

Although Lee has spent nearly 300 weeks at the top of the global rankings, he has never captured a world title or Olympic gold medal and the 32-year-old is nearly certainly playing in his last world championships ahead of his swansong at Rio 2016.

If Sindhu had made it to the quarter-final she would have been assured of at least a bronze medal. Sindhu showed maturity in crunch situations and won 21-17 14-21 21-17. “So hope I play well in the next match too”, Sindhu said after the match. But Saina’s better court craft helped her pull away to a seven-point win (21-14).

On a good day for India in the women’s singles, second seed Saina Nehwal overcame a sluggish start against Japanese southpaw Sayaka Takahashi to book her place in the last eight with a gutsy 21-18, 21-14 victory over her fast-starting opponent.

The 2011 edition bronze medallist pair will next fight it out with another World No 17 Japanese combo of Naoko Fukuman and Kurumi Yonao tomorrow. However, the reigning Asian Games champion bounced back to go 14-13 up.

Sindhu, seeded 11th, has had an injury-interrupted season but will fancy her chances of another upset against South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun, the eighth seed.

Fourth seed Kento Momota of Japan also advanced with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh and second seeded Dane Jan Ø.

“It was an unbelievable win and an important one”.

The devastated third seed had been seeking revenge – and an elusive world crown – after Marin upstaged her in last year’s championships, but badminton fans will now have to wait for that grudge rematch. I am very elated to have been able to perform this way.

Meanwhile, World No. 2 Saina, despite struggling in the opening game, managed to come from behind and live up to her reputation to advance to the next stage.

Lee beat China’s Wang Zhenming 21-17, 21-19 while Lin eased part Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-9, 21-13.