PV. Sindhu, currently ranked world No. 12, is set for a blockbuster quarter-final against reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi Noguchi of Japan. PV Sindhu holds a slight advantage in their rivalry, leading the head-to-head count 15-13. In the men’s doubles competition, top-seeded Indian duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty powered into the last eight with a 21-12, 21-19 victory over Malaysia’s Bryan Jeremy Goonting and Muhammad Haikal. The Indians controlled the opening game with relentless attacking play at the net before holding their nerve in a more competitive second game to wrap up the match in straight games.
Satwik and Chirag
The former champions had opened their campaign with a hard-earned 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 win against Indonesia’s Muh Putra Erwiansyah and Bagas Maulana. Winners of the tournament in 2019 and 2024, Satwik and Chirag are the only top seeds left in the draw with previous title-winning experience at the event.
The Indian pair will now meet Japan’s sixth-seeded duo of Takumi Nomura and Yuichi Shimogami in the quarter-finals, with a semi-final berth at stake.
Lakshya Sen is set to comeback
India’s campaign also stayed alive in several other categories, with Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Malvika Bansod and Devika Sihag, the 2026 Thailand Masters champion, scheduled for later matches during the day.
Srikanth had already announced himself strongly in the tournament after stunning Singapore’s eighth seed Loh Kean Yew 21-14, 21-15 in the opening round. Lakshya, making his return after the injury suffered during the Thomas Cup, overcame Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh 21-16, 21-17 in a 43-minute contest.
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Devika progressed through the preliminary stage with a win against Japan’s Nana Nidaira, while Bansod showed grit to defeat Zhang Wen Yu in three games. Continuing her comeback from ACL surgery on her left knee, Bansod recovered after dropping the first game to claim a fighting 13-21, 26-24, 21-13 victory.
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