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Stephy Zhang

Chinese badminton player Wang Zhiyi sparked a “fake injury” controversy on Thursday after collapsing twice before rallying to defeat PV Sindhu in an 88-minute marathon, leaving the Indian star questioning whether her opponent had suffered genuine cramps or deployed a tactical ploy.
In a women’s singles last-16 match at the world championships, Wang overcame the host favourite in a gripping, back-and-forth contest, ultimately securing a 21-11, 15-21, 21-17 victory to reach her career-first quarter-finals at the tournament.
Wang started brightly, comfortably taking the opening game through disciplined rally control. Sindhu responded aggressively in the second, capitalising on attacking opportunities with steep downward smashes to level the match.
The decider turned into a gruelling battle as the pair fought to 16-all. At this critical juncture, Wang suffered a sudden thigh cramp after a diving save, collapsing on the court in visible pain and prompting a medical timeout.
Returning to the court after brief treatment, Wang fell again under the intensity of the rallies, setting the stage for post-match friction.

The Chinese player persevered to seal the final game, ending a 13-year world championships drought for China’s women’s singles players against Sindhu.
Speaking after the match, Sindhu raised questions about the stoppage. “I don’t know if she had an injury or what; maybe that was her tactic and her way of doing it,” Sindhu said.
“I have to be focused and I was, but again each point matters, right? At that point, even though she takes a break or not, if she is injured or not, you never know,” she added. “Maybe that is her way of game style or that is her way of strategy, but for me it is just that I need to focus and play every point and focus on every point.”
Wang denied using stalling tactics, maintaining that she suffered cramps in both legs during the final stretch.
“Obviously today’s match was very tough, and I think she is a very strong opponent with extremely fast attacking speed,” Wang said.
“My tactics worked, and I am proud of my performance today. When the cramps hit, I just told myself to keep holding on. Never give up – that’s all.”
Although Sindhu stopped short of an explicit accusation, her comments triggered fierce debate among fans.
Many viewers pointed to broadcast footage showing visible muscle spasms, arguing the cramps stemmed from sheer physical exhaustion, while criticising Sindhu for shifting blame after a defeat.
“Are you kidding? She won the point when she got injured – why would she use a strategy when momentum was already in her favour?” one netizen commented.
Another user mimicked Sindhu’s phrasing: “I don’t know if Sindhu is just sore about losing. Maybe that’s her tactic and her way of putting it.”
Conversely, other fans expressed scepticism over how quickly Wang regained her rhythm upon returning to the court, questioning if the medical timeout disrupted Sindhu’s momentum.
“Her remarks were actually quite objective; if I were in her position, I would also feel the opponent used a strategy to unsettle my focus,” another user wrote.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s remaining players were knocked out of the tournament on Friday when women’s doubles pair Yeung Nga-ting and Yeung Pui-lam lost their quarter-final 21-14, 21-17 to the mainland’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.
Liu and and Tan, who are defending champions, will now face India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who secured at least a bronze – their country’s first medal in 15 years – after overcoming another Chinese pair, Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian, 16-21, 21-15, 21-13.
On Thursday, Hong Konger Angus Ng Ka-long lost his last-16 singles match against France’s Alex Lanier 21-17, 21-12.


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China’s Wang Zhiyi beat PV Sindhu of India to reach her first world championships quarter-final. Photo: Xinhua

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China player collapses twice in deciding game before ousting home favourite PV Sindhu to reach quarter-finals at the event for first time


China player collapses twice in deciding game before ousting home favourite PV Sindhu to reach quarter-finals at the event for first time.


Wang Zhiyi

Chinese badminton star Wang Zhiyi in ‘fake injury’ controversy after world championships win

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}China player collapses twice in deciding game before ousting home favourite PV Sindhu to reach quarter-finals at the event for first time

China player collapses twice in deciding game before ousting home favourite PV Sindhu to reach quarter-finals at the event for first time