Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and former world No.1 Kidambi Srikanth produced contrasting yet equally compelling performances to progress to the second round of the Indonesia Masters Super 500 in Jakarta on Wednesday, keeping India’s singles challenge alive at the iconic Istora Senayan.
Fifth seed Sindhu dug deep to overcome Japan’s Manami Suizu 22-20, 21-18 in a tense 53-minute women’s singles encounter, while Srikanth battled physical fatigue and mental pressure to outlast world No.22 Koki Watanabe 21-15, 21-23, 24-22 in a gripping men’s singles clash that lasted over an hour.
PV Sindhu’s Experience Shines Through
Sindhu began slowly and appeared out of rhythm early on, trailing 2-11 at the mid-game interval of the first game as Suizu dictated play with sharp net control and quick interceptions.
It was Sindhu’s second straight win over Suizu, having also beaten her in last year’s India Open. A strong run in Jakarta could help restore consistency and confidence ahead of a packed international season.
Sindhu will next face Denmark’s Line Højmark Kjærsfeldt, ranked 18th in the world, in the pre-quarter-finals. The Indian holds a dominant 5–1 head-to-head record against the Dane and will be eager to capitalise on it.
Srikanth’s Statement Win
If Sindhu’s win was about control, Srikanth’s was about resilience.
At a stage of his career where expectations are tempered by questions over form and fitness, the former world No.1 delivered a stirring reminder of his competitive fire. Choosing placement over power and patience over risk, he sealed a dramatic 24-22 victory, visibly emotional as he secured a place in the Round of 16.
Ranked 33rd in the world and coming off a challenging phase marked by injuries and inconsistency, Srikanth’s win was more than just a result- it was a statement that he remains capable of competing at the highest level. He now faces fourth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in what promises to be another stern test.
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India’s campaign saw mixed fortunes across other events. Kiran George bowed out in the first round after a 17-21, 14-21 loss to Indonesia’s Moh Zaki Ubaidillah. In women’s singles, Akarshi Kashyap exited following a three-game defeat to Denmark’s Julie Dawall Jakobsen.
India’s mixed doubles pairs also suffered early exits. Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde went down 9-21, 20-22 to fourth seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue of France, while Dhruv Kapila and Tanish Crasto lost 23-21, 20-22, 6-21 to French duo Julien Maio and Lea Palermo.
As the Indonesia Masters gathers momentum, India’s hopes now rest firmly on Sindhu and Srikanth- two veterans who, through grit and belief, showed that experience still counts on the BWF World Tour.
