PV Sindhu’s hopes of making a strong impression at the India Open 2026 came to an abrupt halt on January 14 as the two-time Olympic medallist suffered a first-round exit at the hands of Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam in the women’s singles event.
Competing at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, Sindhu, ranked 12th in the world, started positively by taking the opening game but was unable to sustain momentum, eventually going down 22-20, 12-21, 15-21 in a match that lasted just over an hour. The defeat extended Nguyen’s recent dominance over the Indian star, marking Sindhu’s fourth successive loss to the Vietnamese shuttler on the tour.
The result was a setback for Sindhu, who entered the Super 750 tournament on the back of an encouraging semi-final appearance at the Malaysia Open last week. Home supporters had hoped the former champion would build on that form, but shifting conditions inside the arena appeared to play a role in her struggles.
Sindhu found it difficult to adapt to the sideways drift within the stadium, particularly in the second game, which affected her control and shot placement. Nguyen, on the other hand, adjusted smartly, using deception and consistency to outlast Sindhu in extended rallies after narrowly conceding the opening game.
Returning to full competition only recently following a four-month injury lay-off, Sindhu showed flashes of her trademark aggression whenever she dictated play. However, inconsistency crept into her game as unforced errors mounted, allowing her opponent to take charge during the latter stages of the match.
This marks Sindhu’s earliest exit from the India Open since 2023, having reached the quarter-finals in last year’s edition. The New Delhi venue holds added significance this season, as it will also host the BWF World Championships in August, an event Sindhu has already identified as a major focus.
Whether Sindhu will feature next at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 remains uncertain, as she continues to manage her schedule carefully with an eye on the World Championships and the Asian Games later this year. Earlier in the day, India did have reason to celebrate as Malavika Bansod advanced to the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals with a straight-games win over Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei, providing a positive note for the home contingent.
