Beijing: Shi Yuqi’s 2026 badminton season could be heading for an early finish, with ongoing injury problems expected to keep the Chinese men’s singles star away from several major tournaments during the closing months of the year.
According to reports in Chinese media and projections surrounding his upcoming schedule, Shi is expected to withdraw from the Denmark Open, French Open and Arctic Open, while appearances at the Japan Open and Hong Kong Open are also considered unlikely.
If those withdrawals are confirmed, the lack of ranking points would effectively end his hopes of qualifying for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals.
Rather than continuing to compete while below full fitness, the priority for the 30-year-old now appears to be recovery and preparing his body for a fresh start in 2027.
Injuries Take Their Toll on Shi Yuqi
It has been a difficult stretch for Shi, whose physical condition has increasingly affected his ability to produce his best badminton during a demanding international schedule.
After a series of high-intensity tournaments, recurring injuries have taken their toll on his movement and attacking game. His struggles were evident at two of the season’s biggest individual competitions, with an early exit at the World Championships followed by another disappointing individual campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Those results represented a sharp change in fortunes for a player accustomed to challenging for the sport’s biggest titles.
Continuing to chase ranking points while carrying injuries could create further problems. An extended break, on the other hand, would give Shi an opportunity to recover properly rather than repeatedly returning to competition without being physically ready.
World Ranking Could Take a Hit
Stepping away from the tour will come at a cost.
Based on ranking projections, Shi could fall to around world No. 16 by early 2027 if he misses the remaining major tournaments and other players continue accumulating points.
Such a drop could affect his seeding when he returns, potentially placing him against highly ranked opponents much earlier in tournaments.
For Shi, however, restoring his fitness may be far more important than protecting his ranking. A lower seed can be rebuilt through results; persistent physical problems are much harder to overcome while competing week after week.
Could Shi Yuqi Return at the 2027 Malaysia Open?
If Shi sits out the remainder of the year, attention will inevitably turn to when he might return to international badminton.
One possibility being discussed is the Malaysia Open at the beginning of the 2027 season, although his comeback schedule will ultimately depend on his recovery.
A January return would give Shi several months away from tournament competition and an opportunity to rebuild his physical condition before another demanding season.
It could also offer him a chance to approach 2027 without the immediate burden of defending his ranking position and instead concentrate on gradually rediscovering his best form.
China Faces Men’s Singles Test Without Shi Yuqi
Shi’s potential absence would also put greater attention on the depth of China’s men’s singles squad.
Despite his individual disappointments this season, Shi remained an important figure for China in team competition and helped his country secure a silver medal at the Asian Team Championships.
If he is unavailable for the remaining tournaments of 2026, China’s other men’s singles players will have more responsibility to deliver results on the BWF World Tour.
For Shi, the coming months could therefore be less about ranking points and more about getting healthy enough to compete at his usual level again. After a season in which injuries repeatedly interrupted his momentum, time away from competition may provide the reset he needs before returning to the international circuit.
Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning Also Withdraw From Korea Open
China will also be without women’s doubles world No. 1 Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning at the 2026 Korea Open, with the pair confirmed to have withdrawn from the tournament.
Their absence adds another notable change to China’s lineup as the international badminton calendar moves into the final stretch of the season.
