Nozomi Okuhara, the former world champion, has completed her most rigorous training block to date. She is now shifting her focus towards competition mode for the Singapore Open, a significant event in her return from injury.
Okuhara has officially confirmed her participation in the Singapore Open, which is one of the major Super 750 tournaments. Recently, she shared an update on X regarding her preparation for the event.
“I’ve finally been able to follow a proper badminton player’s schedule, and I’ve gone through the toughest part of my training! From here, I’ll spend the next two weeks fine-tuning and preparing for the tournament at the end of May,” she said.
The 2026 Singapore Open will be held in Singapore and includes categories such as women’s singles, men’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The tournament is known for its fierce competition, often featuring top 10-ranked players, and is part of the mid-season Asian tournaments.
Currently ranked around World No.11, Okuhara is a former world champion and an Olympic bronze medalist. She has been working on rebuilding her form and performance level after suffering an injury setback in recent tournaments. Her training is focused on recovery and building endurance.
However, this comeback has not been without challenges. Okuhara has faced multiple setbacks throughout her career due to injuries and inconsistencies. These issues have significantly impacted her participation and performance.
One major setback occurred in 2013 when she suffered a serious knee injury during the Malaysia Open while playing against Saina Nehwal. The injury happened during a long three-game match, forcing her to withdraw from the circuit for almost a year. This disrupted her momentum during a crucial phase of her career.
After returning to the sport and reaching ‘world-class’ form, including her wins in the 2017 World Championships, Okuhara faced physical issues again. Towards the end of 2017, she experienced knee problems that caused discomfort between matches. This led her to withdraw from several tournaments to prevent the condition from worsening.
This issue continued until 2023, and she gradually returned to competition. However, she still couldn’t perform or play as she once did. Okuhara continues to work through her physical setbacks while maintaining consistency on the World Tour.
