PV Sindhu’s Challenging 2025: Early Exits Dominate as Veteran Shuttler Seeks Revival
PV Sindhu's Challenging 2025: Early Exits Dominate as Veteran Shuttler Seeks Revival
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu’s 2025 badminton season has been marked by inconsistency, with a string of early tournament exits overshadowing occasional flashes of her trademark aggression. As the year draws to a close, the 30-year-old Indian shuttler faces mounting pressure to regroup ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, amid advice from peers on managing her packed schedule.
Sindhu, who holds the distinction of being India’s first female world champion in badminton, entered 2025 ranked outside the top 10 for the first time since 2016, a slide attributed to recurring injuries and a dip in form following her bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games and silver at Rio 2016. Her campaign began with promise at the India Open in January, where she reached the quarterfinals, but the momentum faltered quickly thereafter.
The season’s narrative has been one of frustration on the BWF World Tour. At the Singapore Open in May, Sindhu suffered a second-round defeat to China’s Chen Yufei, her seventh loss in 13 encounters against the former world No. 1. This was followed by a pre-quarterfinal exit at the Indonesia Open in June, where she squandered a 15-11 lead in the deciding game against Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong. July brought further setbacks: a first-round loss to South Korea’s Sim Yu Jin at the Japan Open – her fifth opening-round defeat of the year – and an upset pre-quarterfinal defeat to 17-year-old compatriot Unnati Hooda at the China Open, ranked world No. 35 at the time.
These results have compounded Sindhu’s challenges, with her best finish this year remaining that January quarterfinal. In an August interview, Sindhu, now ranked 15th, acknowledged the hurdles but emphasized her enduring drive: “I still have it in me,” she said, reflecting on the Paris 2024 Olympics where she exited in the round of 16.
A brief resurgence came at the BWF World Championships in Paris last month. Seeded 11th, Sindhu stunned world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi of China 21-19, 21-15 in the round of 16, showcasing the power smashes that once defined her game. She followed this with a dominant 21-5, 21-10 win over Denmark’s Julie Jakobsen in the quarterfinals. However, her medal quest ended in the semifinals with a 14-21, 21-13, 16-21 loss to Indonesia’s ninth-seed Putri Kusuma Wardani, marking her closest brush with a podium finish this year.
September offered mixed signals. At the China Masters Super 750, Sindhu advanced to the quarterfinals with straight-sets victories, including a 21-15, 21-15 defeat of world No. 6 Chochuwong – where she recorded the fastest women’s singles smash of the tournament at 394.1 km/h. Yet, she fell 21-11, 21-16 to Olympic champion An Se-young of South Korea in the last eight, admitting post-match that unforced errors cost her dearly.
Off the court, Sindhu has remained active in public life. On October 2, she attended Vijayawada Utsav, a cultural festival in Andhra Pradesh, where Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu presented her with a traditional gift and she introduced her husband, adding a personal touch to her engagements. Earlier, she joined Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt for a promotional relay race in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk alongside hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and javelin thrower Animesh Kujur, blending sport with cultural outreach.
| Tournament | Stage Reached | Opponent in Exit Match |
|---|---|---|
| India Open (Jan) | Quarterfinals | – |
| Singapore Open (May) | Second Round | Chen Yufei (CHN) |
| Indonesia Open (Jun) | Pre-Quarterfinals | Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA) |
| Japan Open (Jul) | First Round | Sim Yu Jin (KOR) |
| China Open (Jul) | Pre-Quarterfinals | Unnati Hooda (IND) |
| BWF World Championships (Aug/Sep) | Quarterfinals | Putri Kusuma Wardani (INA) |
| China Masters (Sep) | Quarterfinals | An Se-young (KOR) |
Amid the scrutiny, fellow Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal offered measured counsel in a recent interview. “PV knows how to win big titles… She will have to pick tournaments where she wants to go all out,” Nehwal said, stressing workload management as Sindhu navigates her 30s. Nehwal, who retired in 2023 after her own battles with form and injury, highlighted the physical toll of the sport: “Ageing in badminton is tough; recovery takes longer.”
Experts echo this view. Badminton Association of India officials have noted Sindhu’s commitment to training under coach Agus Dwi Santoso but point to the need for strategic breaks to rebuild consistency. Her head-to-head record against top-10 players stands at 12 wins in 48 matches this year, underscoring the gap she must bridge.
With the BWF World Tour winding down and no major events until early 2026, Sindhu’s focus shifts to the Asian Games qualifiers and personal milestones. Her resilience – evident in comebacks like the 2019 World Championship gold – suggests potential for turnaround, but 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the sport’s unforgiving pace.
As one analyst put it, “Sindhu’s story isn’t over; it’s evolving.” For now, the shuttler from Hyderabad must balance reflection with action to reclaim her elite status.
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Last Updated on: Friday, October 3, 2025 3:38 pm by Business Max Team | Published by: Business Max Team on Friday, October 3, 2025 3:38 pm | News Categories: Lifestyle News
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