Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Sindhu's hunger drives historic sixth World Championships medal bid
PV Sindhu is a famous badminton player from India who has won medals at two Olympic Games.
She has already won five medals at the World Championships, including a gold medal in 2019.
Now Sindhu is trying to win a sixth World Championships medal, something no player has ever done.
The World Championships are happening in New Delhi, India, for the first time in 17 years, and Sindhu is excited to play in front of the home crowd.
She recently won the Japan Open, ending a long wait of almost two years without a title.
That win has made her feel confident about her game and her movement.
Sindhu's first match in the tournament is against Sophia Noble from Ireland.
Badminton is changing, with longer rallies that need more patience.
A new 15-point scoring system will start next year, and Sindhu says comebacks will be much harder then.
PV Sindhu is targeting a historic sixth World Championships medal, which would make her the first player ever to achieve the feat.
A semifinal appearance at the event would assure her of at least a bronze medal.
Her recent Japan Open victory ended a nearly two-year title drought and boosted her confidence.
The championships have returned to India after 17 years, with New Delhi hosting for the first time since Hyderabad in 2009.
Sindhu said the new 15-point scoring system, arriving next year, will make comebacks much harder.
- Who
- PV Sindhu, a 31-year-old two-time Olympic medallist and five-time World Championships medallist from India.
- What
- Competing for a historic sixth World Championships medal, which would make her the first player ever to win six medals at the event.
- When
- The championships begin on Monday; Sindhu spoke at a pre-event press conference on Sunday, August 16.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, the first time the World Championships have been held in India in 17 years since Hyderabad hosted in 2009.
- Why
- Sindhu says her 'hunger towards the game' remains as strong as ever, and her Japan Open victory has given her a major confidence boost.
- Player
- PV Sindhu
- Age
- 31
- Olympic record
- Two-time Olympic medallist
- World Championships medals so far
- 5 (two bronze, two silver, one gold in 2019)
- Record in sight
- First player to win six World Championships medals
- Host venue
- New Delhi, India (first time in India since Hyderabad, 2009)
- Recent title
- Japan Open (ended nearly two-year title drought)
- Opening opponent
- Sophia Noble (Ireland)
