PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the Korea Open and Japan Masters to prioritise recovery ahead of the BWF World Tour Finals in December, the two-time Olympic medallist confirmed at a media interaction in New Delhi on 4 November 2026. The decision came on the back of an intense run of tournaments that saw Sindhu reach back-to-back finals in Paris and Saarbrucken, culminating in her title victory at the Hylo Open in Germany.

A Season of Comeback

Sindhu's win at the Hylo Open was her second BWF World Tour title of the season, following her triumph at the Japan Open Super 750 in July — itself her first individual crown since December 2024. The victories have lifted her career BWF World Tour tally to seven titles.

Notably, this is the first season since 2022 in which the former world champion has claimed multiple World Tour crowns, marking a significant resurgence. She also reached the final of the French Open before Saarbrucken, where she fell to world No. 1 and Paris 2024 Olympic champion An Se-young of South Korea.

Why Sindhu Stepped Back

Sindhu said her initial plan had been to compete through the Korea Open, but physical wear from a long stretch of tournaments changed that calculation. 'After playing a long tour, I thought that I would not be playing the Korea Open and the following tournaments, but it was important for me to get back and relax at the same time,' she said at the event felicitated by the Badminton Federation of India (BFI). 'So it was important for me to take care of my body and get fit for the next tournaments.'

Speaking candidly about her age and fitness, the 31-year-old struck a characteristically upbeat note: 'As I mentioned, I'm not young anymore, but also I mentioned 31 is the new 21, so I need to take care of my body, isn't it?'

Sindhu on the New 3×15 Scoring Format

With badminton's new 3×15 scoring system set to take effect on 4 January 2027, Sindhu shared her assessment of how the format will reshape the game. She emphasised that the compressed scoring leaves no room for slow starts — a sharp contrast to the current 21-point system.

'You cannot have these easy points. These two, three, two points from the beginning — half of the game is over by then,' she said. 'But I think in a 21-point system, there's still time; five points have been done, and then people can come back. But now here, once you get these five or six points, half the game is over.'

Sindhu added that she and her team have already begun training under the new format: 'We've been playing 21 for so many years now. So, we accordingly made sure that we train and practise that scoring as well. And at the same time because for everyone it is going to be different, it is also important to stay alert from the beginning.'

What Lies Ahead

With the BWF World Tour Finals scheduled for December, Sindhu's strategic withdrawal signals a calculated push for one of the season's most prestigious titles. Having already secured qualification with two tour victories, she now has the luxury of arriving in peak condition — a factor that could prove decisive against an elite field that includes the formidable An Se-young.