PV Sindhu Exits China Open 2026 After Narrow Defeat to Chen Yufei

PV Sindhu's Journey at the China Open 2026 Comes to an End

Changzhou, China - On July 23, PV Sindhu's participation in the China Open 2026 concluded after a hard-fought match against local star Chen Yufei. Sindhu lost with scores of 16-21, 22-20, and 21-18 in the women's singles round of 16. This defeat also marked the end of India's journey in the BWF Super 1000 tournament, as both Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty were eliminated later in the day, according to reports from a media channel.

Sindhu, who is currently ranked 12th in the world, faced off against the 4th ranked Chen Yufei. The match saw Chen recover from an initial setback to secure her spot in the quarter-finals.

Chen started strong, establishing a 12-6 lead in the first game. However, Sindhu showcased her resilience by leveling the score at 16-16 and ultimately clinching the first game.

In the second game, Sindhu maintained her momentum and even had four match points at 20-16. Yet, Chen made a stunning comeback, winning six consecutive points to push the match into a deciding game. Although Sindhu initially led in the final game, Chen regained control in the crucial moments, winning after an intense battle lasting one hour and 29 minutes.

This loss marked Sindhu's ninth defeat in 16 encounters against Chen Yufei.

In the men's singles, Ayush Shetty, ranked 23rd globally, faced a close defeat against Ireland's Nhat Nguyen, ranked 24th, with scores of 21-15, 13-21, and 20-22. Shetty had a promising lead of 19-15 in the final game but couldn't secure the win.

Lakshya Sen, ranked 14th, was defeated in straight games by Canada's Victor Lai, who is ranked 8th, with scores of 21-19 and 21-11. Despite starting strong with a 15-9 lead in the first game, Lakshya couldn't maintain his advantage as Lai turned the match around.

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