PV Sindhu's projected path to gold medal at Asian Games 2026
Sindhu will potentially be facing WR 7 Tomoka Miyazaki in the round of 16
PV Sindhu will begin her quest for a maiden Asian Games gold medal with a first-round bye in the women’s singles event at the Asian Games 2026.
The individual badminton events begin on September 25, with Sindhu receiving a relatively favourable start before a series of major challenges could await her in the later rounds.
The two-time Olympic medallist has already won a team bronze and an individual silver at the Asian Games and will be aiming to complete her medal collection in Aichi-Nagoya. Her projected route to the final, however, features some of the biggest names in women’s badminton.
Here’s a look at PV Sindhu’s projected path to a gold medal at the Asian Games 2026:
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R64 – Bye
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Sindhu has received a bye in the opening round and will therefore advance directly to the round of 32.
R32 – Chiu Pin-Chian
Sindhu will face Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin-Chian, who is ranked 17th in the world.
The two players have never faced each other, making this an unfamiliar challenge for Sindhu. Chiu has shown the ability to trouble higher-ranked opponents and could make life difficult if Sindhu fails to settle quickly.
Sindhu’s experience on the biggest stages should prove valuable, but she will need to avoid giving her opponent an early advantage.
Pin Chian, the Taipei No. 1, advanced to the second round after defeating Malaysia’s Letshanaa Karupathevan in straight games 21-13, 21-13 in the round of 64. Sindhu, meanwhile, received a bye.
R16 – Tomoka Miyazaki
The challenge gets significantly tougher in the round of 16, where Sindhu could face Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki, currently ranked seventh in the world.
Sindhu leads their head-to-head 2-1. Their most recent meeting came at the Malaysia Open earlier this year, where Sindhu won in straight games. However, Miyazaki has already shown that she can trouble the Indian, having defeated her at the 2024 Swiss Open.
The Japanese youngster also arrives with strong recent form, having reached the final of the China Masters earlier this month after defeating Wang Zhiyi in the semi-finals. She eventually lost to An Se-young in the final.
This could be one of Sindhu’s first major tests of the tournament.
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Quarter-final – Chen Yufei
A potential quarter-final against Chen Yufei could be another blockbuster.
The Chinese star, ranked fourth in the world, has a 9-7 head-to-head advantage over Sindhu. Chen is also a former Olympic champion and possesses plenty of experience in high-pressure matches.
Sindhu’s route to the semi-final could therefore depend on whether she can handle Chen’s defensive ability and sustained rallying. A victory would also guarantee Sindhu a medal.
Semi-final – An Se-young
If Sindhu reaches the semi-final, she could face the biggest challenge of her campaign in An Se-young.
The South Korean is the reigning Olympic and world champion and has established herself as one of the most difficult players to beat on the women’s singles circuit.
An’s movement, defence and ability to maintain intensity throughout long rallies could test Sindhu’s physicality.
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Sindhu has never defeated An in their 10 previous meetings, making this a particularly intriguing potential semifinal.
However, Sindhu has repeatedly produced some of her best performances on the biggest stages. If she can overcome An, she would move into the gold-medal match.
Final – Wang Zhiyi/Akane Yamaguchi
The final could potentially see Sindhu face either Wang Zhiyi or Akane Yamaguchi.
Both players are familiar opponents for Sindhu and have the quality to reach the gold-medal match. Wang has beaten Sindhu in their recent meetings, while Yamaguchi has also enjoyed a long rivalry with the Indian.
Sindhu, however, defeated Yamaguchi in straight games in the Japan Open final earlier this year. That victory gave her a maiden BWF Super 750 title on home soil for Yamaguchi.
The path is therefore a demanding one. If Sindhu can navigate this star-studded route, she will finally have the Asian Games gold medal that has eluded her throughout her career.
Has PV Sindhu ever beaten An Se-young?
No, Sindhu has never defeated An Se-young in their previous meetings, making a potential semi-final clash one of the toughest tests on her route to gold.
What medals has PV Sindhu already won at the Asian Games?
Sindhu has previously won a team bronze and an individual silver at the Asian Games and is aiming to complete her medal collection with a maiden gold in Aichi-Nagoya.
What is PV Sindhu’s projected path to gold at the Asian Games 2026?
After a first-round bye, Sindhu could face Chiu Pin-Chian in the round of 32, Tomoka Miyazaki in the round of 16, Chen Yufei in the quarter-final, An Se-young in the semi-final, and Wang Zhiyi or Akane Yamaguchi in a potential final.
When will PV Sindhu start her campaign at Asian Games 2026?
Sindhu will start her campaign on September 26 (Saturday) against Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin Chian in the round of 32.
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