[Video/Yongpai app]

At the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China's Wang Zhiyi advanced to the women's singles quarterfinals after a straight-games victory over India's PV Sindhu in the round of 16, in a match that underscored the contrast between an established star and a rising force.

Second seed Wang, the reigning All England Open champion, defeated the 2019 world champion 21–18, 21–8 on April 9. The pair had been evenly matched in previous matches, sharing three wins apiece from their six encounters, but Wang proved sharper in the key moments to take control of the match.

The first game was tightly contested, with neither player able to pull away as the score remained close throughout. Wang, however, managed the crucial points more effectively to edge ahead. In the second game, she raised her tempo and played with greater intent, quickly building a commanding lead to close out the victory in convincing fashion.

Sindhu, 30, remains one of the sport's most accomplished figures, while 25-year-old Wang continues to establish herself as one of the best of her generation. After the match, Sindhu was quoted as saying she was happy to see strong young Chinese players emerging and believed Wang has what it takes to go on to become a world champion.

Wang, meanwhile, expressed deep respect for her opponent, noting that Sindhu's ability to remain competitive at this stage of her career and continue playing at a high level was highly admirable, reflecting her enduring passion for the game.