PV Sindhu Exits China Open 2026 After Narrow Defeat

PV Sindhu's journey at the China Open 2026 came to a heartbreaking end as she lost to Chen Yufei in a closely contested match. Despite leading at various points, Sindhu could not secure the win, marking her ninth defeat against Chen. Additionally, Indian players Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty also faced elimination in the men's singles category. The Indian contingent will next compete at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open starting July 28, as they look to bounce back from this setback.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 23, 2026, 23:02 IST

Sindhu's Journey at the China Open Comes to an End

PV Sindhu's participation in the China Open 2026 concluded on Thursday when she faced a tough loss against local favorite Chen Yufei. The match ended with scores of 16-21, 22-20, 21-18, eliminating Sindhu from the women's singles round of 16 in Changzhou, China. India's representation in the BWF Super 1000 tournament also came to a close later that day, as both Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty were knocked out in the men's singles second round.

A Close Call for Sindhu

Ranked 12th in the world, Sindhu fought hard but ultimately fell to the 4th ranked Chen Yufei, who managed to recover after losing the first game. Chen started strong, taking a 12-6 lead in the opening game. However, Sindhu showcased her skills by leveling the score at 16-16 and then clinching the first game by winning five out of the next six points.

In the second game, Sindhu maintained her momentum and even earned four match points at 20-16. Yet, Chen made an impressive comeback, saving all four match points and winning six consecutive points to push the match into a deciding game.

During the final game, Sindhu initially held the lead, but Chen regained control in the crucial moments, ultimately winning after a grueling one hour and 29 minutes. This defeat marked Sindhu's ninth loss in 16 encounters against Chen Yufei.

Men's Singles Results: Sen and Shetty Exit

In the men's singles category, Ayush Shetty, ranked 23rd globally, faced a heartbreaking defeat against Ireland's Nhat Nguyen, ranked 24th, with scores of 21-15, 13-21, 20-22. Shetty was in a promising position, leading 19-15 in the final game, but could not secure the win.

Lakshya Sen, who holds the 14th position in the world rankings, was defeated in straight games by Canada's Victor Lai, ranked 8th, with scores of 21-19, 21-11. Despite starting strong with a 15-9 lead in the first game, Lakshya could not maintain his advantage as Lai mounted a comeback.

The Indian badminton players are set to compete next at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open, which is scheduled to start on July 28.