Former national champ Damayanti consoles Sindhu

Former women's national champion Damayanti Tambay, nee Subedar, felt there was no need for Sindhu to feel bad about her defeat Saturday at the hands of Ratchanok Intanon in the women's singles semifinals of the World Badminton Championships because she lost to a player who was better than her.

The four-time national champion told IANS that Sindhu was up against a smarter player, who dominated the match right from the start and clearly looked better in all aspects of the game.

"The Thai was so smart that she delayed her shots to place her smash to wrong foot the Indian. Simply put, Ratchanok did not allow Sindhu to play her game, it is not that the Indian was not capable of beating her. This day Sindhu was on the backfoot and was always playing the catching up game," Damayanti said.

"By the time Sindhu changed gears and got aggressive, it was too late, but she did show a spark in the dying minutes."

Damayanti said she had little doubt that Sindhu was destined for bigger things and she need not be dispirited about today's defeat. It was only a matter of time before she gets back on the circuit with full force.