It was a moment of grit, relief, and rediscovered fire as PV Sindhu battled her way into the Round of 16 at the 2025 China Open Super 1000, overcoming Japan’s rising star Tomoka Miyazaki in a pulsating three-game thriller.
The match ended 21-15, 8-21, 21-17 in 61 minutes, and while the scoreline tells part of the story, the intensity and drama on court told the rest.
Coming into the tournament, Sindhu had been searching for that elusive spark against top-tier opponents her last win against a top-10 player dating back to the 2024 Denmark Open. Against the 19-year-old world No. 6 Miyazaki, who has quickly built a reputation for fearless, fast-paced badminton, the challenge was as much mental as it was tactical. And Sindhu rose to meet it.
The opening game saw Sindhu start strongly. Mixing sharp smashes with deft net play, she kept Miyazaki guessing and took control of the rallies. Her defensive retrievals were solid, and she capitalized on short lifts to build a lead. Closing out the first game 21-15, it felt like the Sindhu who once stunned world champions was back.
Yet, just as quickly, Miyazaki struck back. The Japanese teenager adjusted brilliantly in the second game, changing the pace and drawing errors from Sindhu’s racket. Sindhu found herself trailing early and could not recover, eventually conceding the game 8-21. It was a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift at this level.
Then came the decider and the defining moments of the match. Sindhu raced to an 11-2 lead at the mid-game interval, showing vintage aggression and composure. But Miyazaki, living up to her reputation, staged a fierce comeback, clawing back point by point to narrow the gap. For Sindhu, who has struggled recently to close out tight matches against higher-ranked opponents, this was the real test.
Holding her nerve under pressure, Sindhu kept her gameplan steady, resisting the urge to rush points. Her movement across the court was sharper, and crucially, she stayed patient in the longer rallies. In the final stretch, she found just enough attacking width to keep Miyazaki at bay, finally sealing the match 21-17. The roar from Sindhu at the end spoke volumes part joy, part relief, part defiance.
This was more than just a first-round win; it was Sindhu’s first top-10 victory in nearly a year, and against one of the most exciting young players in women’s badminton. It comes at a time when questions have been asked about her form, her confidence in closing matches, and her place among the sport’s elite.
To get this win at a Super 1000 event among the highest tier on the BWF circuit is hugely significant. The China Open has always been one of the sport’s toughest tournaments, and Sindhu has had her share of highs and lows here over the years. Today, it felt like a step forward not just on the scoreboard, but in spirit.
For Indian badminton fans, it was also a reminder of what Sindhu at her best still represents: a player capable of absorbing pressure, recalibrating her strategy mid-match, and delivering when it matters most. At 29, she’s still fighting to stay in the conversation against a field that keeps getting younger and faster. Today’s result will boost not only her ranking points but also her self-belief.
Ahead lies an equally tough path. The draw remains stacked, and consistency will be key. But for now, the win over Miyazaki offers a glimpse of hope that Sindhu can still script big moments on the world stage. It was a match where experience met youthful aggression and this time, experience prevailed.
As the China Open Super 1000 continues, Sindhu’s next round will demand the same mental steel and tactical discipline. But today, she answered one of the questions hanging over her recent form: could she find a way to win, even when momentum swung away?
The answer was an emphatic yes. And for Sindhu and for Indian badminton that roar at the end was a sound worth celebrating. 🇮🇳🔥🏸
#ChinaOpen2025 #PVSindhu #Badminton #Comeback #TeamIndia
