PV Sindhu Faces Early Exit at India Open as Young Talents Shine

In a shocking turn of events at the India Open, PV Sindhu was eliminated in the first round by Vietnam's Nguyen Thuy Linh. This match highlighted the challenges Sindhu faces as she returns from injury. Meanwhile, young players like Tanvi Sharma and Malvika Bansod showcased their talent, with Sharma pushing the world No. 2 to a third game. As the tournament progresses, the spotlight shifts to these emerging stars and their performances against seasoned competitors. Read on to discover more about the matches and the future of Indian badminton.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 15, 2026, 06:08 IST

Unexpected Turn of Events at the India Open

In a surprising outcome, PV Sindhu was eliminated in the first round by Vietnam's Nguyen Thuy Linh. This match marked Sindhu's second significant tournament since her recovery from a toe injury. With the support of the home crowd, expectations were high for the two-time Olympic medalist, but the 68-minute encounter revealed that Sindhu has considerable improvements to make if she aims to continue competing at a high level.

The match began with a challenging first game, leading to a series of errors that resulted in a score of 22-20, 12-21, 15-21 against her. Following the match, Sindhu expressed her disappointment with her performance.

"It simply wasn't my day; that's clear. There were some good rallies, and she is a tough competitor despite her ranking. At top-level tournaments, every player performs well, and you can't expect easy points or victories," she remarked.

Sindhu acknowledged her opponent's skills, noting how difficult it was to mount a comeback, even after starting the second game with an advantage.

"She has solid strokes and nothing to lose, making her a tricky opponent. The rallies were lengthy, often involving 10, 15, or even 30 shots. Maintaining the tempo and keeping the shuttle in play is crucial, as minor mistakes can be pivotal," she added.

While Sindhu's journey ended early, young talent Tanvi Sharma impressed the audience by pushing China's world No. 2, Wang Zhi Yi, to a third game before ultimately falling short with scores of 20-22, 21-18, 13-21.

After narrowly losing the first game, the 17-year-old prodigy showcased her skills in the second game against a seasoned opponent. However, she seemed to tire in the final game, allowing Wang to secure the victory.

Malvika Bansod also advanced on Day 2, defeating Chinese Taipei's Pai Yu Po with a score of 21-18, 21-19 in a match lasting 41 minutes. She remains the only Indian competitor left in the women's singles event.

Earlier in the day, Kidambi Srikanth faced a challenge against Tharun Mannepalli, losing the first game 15-21 but bouncing back to win the next two games 21-6, 21-19 to progress to the next round. HS Prannoy triumphed over Hong Kong's Cheuk Yiu Lee with a close score of 22-20, 21-18.

Unfortunately, the mixed doubles team of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto was defeated by Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai with scores of 15-21, 14-21, while Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde lost to Germany's Marvin Seidel and Thuc Phuong Nguyen with scores of 19-21, 14-21.