Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu suffered a first-round exit at the All England Open 2025, losing 21-19, 13-21, 13-21 to South Korea’s Kim Ga-eun in Birmingham on March 12. Despite a strong start, Sindhu, ranked 16th in the world, struggled to maintain momentum as Kim dictated play in the final two games.
Sindhu initially led 19-12 in the opening game but needed multiple attempts to close it out at 21-19. However, her struggles became evident afterward, with visible knee taping hinting at fitness concerns. Kim exploited Sindhu’s movement, targeting the backcourt with precise cross-court shots, ultimately sealing victory in just over an hour. This marks Sindhu’s fourth consecutive early exit from the tournament since her semi-final run in 2021.
Returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined her in February, Sindhu faced a tough draw, with a potential second-round clash against fourth seed Yue Han of China. Looking ahead, she aims for more consistency after a challenging 2024, where she missed an Olympic medal for the first time in three editions.
Meanwhile, in other Indian performances, Malvika Bansod upset World No. 12 Yeo Jia Min and will next face third seed Akane Yamaguchi. Lakshya Sen advanced to the second round after a hard-fought win against Taiwan’s Su Li Yang.
