PV Sindhu set for competitive comeback at Malaysia Open 2026

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Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will make a comeback at the Malaysia Open 2026. This will mark her first appearance on the international circuit since the China Masters in September 2025, where she reached the quarter-finals. 

 The season-opening BWF Super 1000 tournament will get underway on Tuesday, January 6, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur; she is expected to play the match against Sung Shuo-yun.

 The 30-year-old, currently ranked 18th in the BWF women’s singles rankings, has not played on the BWF World Tour since her quarter-final defeat to Paris 2024 Olympic champion An Se Young at the China Masters in September. Sindhu was sidelined due to a foot injury and was under rehabilitation. She is also expected to lead India’s women’s team at the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026 in February.

India will also be represented in the women’s singles draw by Malvika Bansod and young shuttler Unnati Hooda, who will be aiming to make an impression in the strong field.

Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty will lead the Indian contingent in men’s singles. Both players will be keen to find consistency after mixed results and several first-round exits over the past seasons.

Former world championships bronze medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy are India’s men’s doubles hopes.  The pair are seeded third in Kuala Lumpur and will be eager to repeat their success at the Malaysia Open, where they emerged champions in 2024.

In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will headline India’s challenge. The duo will enter the tournament on the back of a confidence-boosting title defence at the Syed Modi International last month.

Tanisha Crasto, a Paris 2024 Olympian, will partner with Dhruv Kapila to represent India in the mixed doubles. Ranked world No. 17, the pair will be looking to make a strong start to their 2026 campaign at the prestigious event.