Bwf China Open

BWF China Open 2019: Early exit of defensive stonewallers underlines mounting challenge of aggressive players; reaffirms growing fitness standards

Nozomi Okuhara, Akane Yamaguchi, Viktor Axelsen, and Lin Dan lost on the opening day of China Open, making it clear that the days of super-fit, defensive stonewallers are numbered when intrinsically aggressive players hit their straps; and, somewhat antithetically, that the most marginal drop in fitness levels spells doom for even highly accomplished players.

BWF China Open 2019: PV Sindhu will need to overcome 'subtle and not-so-subtle handicaps' to reign victorious again

Sindhu faces an additional handicap of not having her charismatic coach in her corner. Kim was unexpectedly called away to attend to her ailing husband, and has not yet been able to provide a date for her return to Hyderabad.