Japan Open badminton: PV Sindhu after another first-round exit

In Tokyo’s humid summer air, under the bright lights of the Japan Open Super 750, a familiar script played out for India’s most decorated female badminton star. PV Sindhu, once the face of resilience and elite athleticism in Indian sport, bowed out in the first round of a major tournament yet again—this time at the hands of world No. 14 Sim Yu Jin of South Korea. The straight-games 21-15, 21-14 loss was her fifth opening-round exit of the 2025 season and the third time she has fallen in the first two rounds in the past three months.

What makes this defeat even more perplexing is that Sindhu had never lost to Sim Yu Jin in their previous encounters. That record is now broken, and with it, further cracks seem to be appearing in what has been a deeply frustrating year for the 2019 World Champion.

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What makes this defeat even more perplexing is that Sindhu had never lost to Sim Yu Jin in their previous encounters. That record is now broken, and with it, further cracks seem to be appearing in what has been a deeply frustrating year for the 2019 World Champion.

An Unexpected Decline

PV Sindhu’s badminton trajectory has always been one of brilliance punctuated by tough patches. But 2025 is testing the 29-year-old in ways she hasn’t experienced before. With five first-round exits and three second-round defeats this calendar year, her performance graph has been steadily dipping despite signs in training and flashes of her old, attacking self on court.

In the post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Sindhu was candid about the emotional toll and the confusion that accompanies her current slump. “It’s been a tough year so far. I mean, it’s already been six months now. Training-wise it’s going on well, but it’s just a matter of time and the consistency that I need,” she said.

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Sindhu has always been known for her work ethic and discipline. Her tall frame, aggressive smashes, and steely court presence have helped her win medals at every major global tournament. Yet, as 2025 unfolds, she finds herself stuck in a loop—training hard, performing inconsistently, and struggling to string together even two good matches in a row.

A Match That Promised More

Against Sim Yu Jin, Sindhu showed occasional glimpses of her trademark aggression. Her cross-court smashes, her willingness to engage in extended rallies, and her early attempts to dominate the net gave Indian fans some hope. However, the consistency that once made her a top-three player was absent.

Sim, who has been steadily climbing the ranks, took advantage of Sindhu’s unforced errors and lack of rhythm. Despite the Indian shuttler’s superior reach and power, it was Sim’s agility, precision, and mental steadiness that prevailed.

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Sindhu’s game plan seemed uncertain—somewhere between reverting to a defensive, counter-attacking style and launching into an aggressive, full-court assault. The hesitation cost her both the momentum and the scoreboard.

A Struggle Beyond the Numbers

What’s most worrying for Indian badminton fans is not just the losses, but the nature of those losses. Sindhu isn’t being blown off court, but she isn’t able to impose herself either. The defeats are often in straight games, and while they include rallies that show she still has the firepower, the ability to close out tight games, to hang in and grind out results like she once did, seems to be missing.

What’s most worrying for Indian badminton fans is not just the losses, but the nature of those losses

There could be multiple reasons. The long recovery from last year’s knee injury, changes in her coaching staff, pressure from expectations, or perhaps simply the brutal pace of modern badminton taking its toll after more than a decade on the international circuit.

Sindhu herself acknowledged this internal struggle: “I think I need to go back and practice those long matches again. It is hard to say because I’ve been training really hard and I wanted to change things and work things out. But, I mean, sometimes it’s life. So you have to just keep struggling until you get there.”

It’s rare to hear such honest introspection from an athlete still competing at the top level. But Sindhu’s openness is also a reminder of the fragile ecosystem elite athletes live within—where fitness, form, mental health, and confidence all need to fire in harmony.

Looking Ahead: Time Is Ticking

The World Championships loom large on the horizon. For most players, it’s a peak event. For Sindhu, who became India’s first-ever badminton world champion in 2019, it’s also a reminder of what she is capable of when at her best. But time is running out to regain form, both physically and mentally.

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Her current BWF ranking, which has already dipped outside the top 10, risks falling further if these early exits continue. That could mean tougher draws at bigger tournaments, a hit to her seeding at key events, and a growing psychological burden each time she steps onto court.

What may give Sindhu some comfort is the backing of her team and her belief that things can turn around. Despite this year’s setbacks, her commitment to change and her acknowledgment that “consistency” is the missing piece shows she isn’t giving up—far from it.

With the Olympics less than a year away, every match, every tournament, and every training session will now carry added weight. For an athlete who has carried the hopes of a nation for close to a decade, this will be as much a mental reset as a physical one.

What Needs to Change?

Several former players and analysts have weighed in with opinions over the past few months. Some believe she needs a new coaching approach—perhaps a fresh tactical framework or a mentor who can help her navigate this phase emotionally and mentally. Others suggest a few months off the circuit to reset and reprogram her game.

There’s also the question of adapting to the evolving style of women’s singles badminton. Today’s top players are fitter, faster, and more versatile than ever. Sindhu’s power game, which was once a dominant force, now needs to be coupled with smarter shot selection and better court mobility.

Most of all, though, Sindhu needs a few wins—not necessarily titles—but matches where she feels in control again, where her instincts return, and where the scoreboard starts reflecting her hard work.

A Champion’s Crossroads

Athletes often face crossroads in their careers. For PV Sindhu, this season represents one such moment. At 29, with Olympic silver and bronze medals, a World Championship title, and countless other accolades, she has little left to prove. Yet, like all true champions, the hunger to succeed remains.

The journey ahead will be anything but easy. The next few months might decide whether Sindhu can return to her peak in time for the World Championships or perhaps one last Olympic push in Paris 2026. But if history has taught us anything, it is that Sindhu rarely backs down from a challenge.

For now, though, the struggle continues—on the court, in training halls, and in the quiet moments of reflection. As Sindhu herself said, “Sometimes it’s life. So you have to just keep struggling until you get there.”

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