PV Sindhu Targets Smooth Recovery Before Potential Face-Off With An Se Young In China
PV Sindhu Targets Smooth Recovery Before Potential Face-Off With An Se Young In China Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 22:10 IST PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu Targets Smooth Recovery Before Potential Face-Off With An Se Young In China Published By, Last Updated: July 19, 2026, 22:10 IST PV Sindhu wins Japan Open, focuses on recovery for China Open. She discusses past injuries and upcoming challenge at the next tournament. Rapid Read PV Sindhu after winning the Japan Open (Picture credit: Badminton Photo) Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who on Sunday, July 19, became the first Indian shuttler to win the Japan Open, has said that with her next match scheduled in three days, she is fully focused on her recovery after what was a gruelling match against home favourite Akane Yamaguchi. Sindhu blended aggressive play with tactical awareness and composure under pressure to beat Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17, ending her near two-year wait for a title. Sindhu will face compatriot Unnati Hooda in the opening round of the China Open, which starts on Tuesday. But she has confirmed that her match is scheduled for Wednesday, giving her Monday and Tuesday to recover and complete her travel from Japan to China.
“Recovery is extremely important, especially with consecutive matches ahead. My next match is on Wednesday, so the focus over the next two days will be on recovering properly, although I also have to manage travel," Sindhu replied to a query from News18 Sports during an interaction organised by the Badminton Association of India. “After long matches, it takes time for the body to recover and it’s crucial to ensure I am fully fit and ready to spend extended periods on court. Right now, recovery is my top priority and I am working on getting stronger before the next match," Sindhu said. The star Indian shuttler admitted it was a difficult run for her for almost the last two years, in which she also struggled with niggles and injuries. “It was quite a tough journey because I had some niggles and injuries. As an athlete, injuries do happen. It is part and parcel of life, so it’s very important to come back stronger and definitely it took me some time," Sindhu said.
“I had some niggles, then I came back again, I was injured again and then coming back to the rhythm, it was not easy," Sindhu added. If the star Indian shuttler manages to beat Unnati in the opening round of the China Open, she will most likely face top seed An Se Young in the second round. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered Will Sindhu's recovery be enough for the China Open? PV Sindhu is prioritizing recovery for the China Open, which starts Tuesday, July 21, 2026. She won the Japan Open on Sunday, July 19, 2026, and her first match in China is Wednesday, July 23, 2026, giving her two days for recovery and travel. Could Sindhu face An Se Young in the next round? PV Sindhu could face An Se Young in the second round of the China Open if she defeats compatriot Unnati Hooda in the first round.
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