Women’s Singles
PV Sindhu’s journey after her latest Olympic run, where she returned without a medal for the first time, marks a new chapter for Indian badminton. At 29, she’s reevaluating her goals and has hired a new foreign coach, signaling her intent to refine her game and focus on the BWF Tour, where big wins have sometimes been elusive.
Sindhu, seeded sixth, will face her familiar rival Michelle Li, a player she leads 10-3. If she wins, she’ll likely meet 18-year-old Japanese talent Tomako Miyazaki, who beat Sindhu earlier this year at the Swiss Open. This match would highlight Sindhu’s challenge of facing the sport’s new generation. In her quarter of the draw, Paris bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung is the other key seed, although she’s been dealing with physical issues and recently lost to Malvika Bansod at the China Open.
Bansod, now ranked world No. 37 after her strong China performance, will also be an interesting player to watch. She opens against world No. 24 Sung Shuo Yun of Chinese Taipei in their first-ever match. A win could lead her to a tough second-round match against either top seed Wang Zhi Yi or former world champion Ratchanok Intanon.
Aakarshi Kashyap is also in the main draw and will face Germany’s Yvonne Li, who currently leads their head-to-head 3-1. A win for Kashyap could mean a second-round clash with second seed Han Yue.
In the qualifiers, 17-year-old Unnati Hooda will aim to reach the main draw by defeating Heli Neiman of Israel.