Malaysia Open: Sindhu storms into quarters with robust win over Miyazaki, Lakshya crashes out

PV Sindhu's winning streak continued in the ongoing Malaysia Open Super 1000 on January 8 as the two-time Olympic medallist dispatched the eighth-seeded Tomoka Miyazaki to secure her place in the women's singles quarterfinals.

PV Sindhu crush Tomoka Miyazaki to sail into Malaysia Open quarters

The 30-year-old former world champion needed only 33 minutes to dismantle her higher-ranked Japanese opponent. With a clinical 21-8, 21-13 victory, Sindhu not only advanced in the tournament but also edged ahead in her career head-to-head against the rising teenage star, now leading 2-1.

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PV Sindhu asserted her dominance early in the match, racing to an initial 5-1 lead before unleashing a relentless streak of 13 consecutive points. This scoring surge allowed her to establish a massive 18-4 cushion, effectively demoralizing her opponent and allowing her to close out the opening game in dominant fashion.

The second game followed a similar pattern of control, though the 19-year-old Miyazaki showed flashes of resistance by keeping the scoreline tight at 8-9. However, Sindhu relied on her veteran experience to squash the comeback attempt, pulling away to a 17-11 lead. She maintained her composure through the closing rallies to wrap up the match with ease and secure her spot in the next round, where she will face either China's Gao Fang Jie or the third-seeded Akane Yamaguchi.

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Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty bow out

While Sindhu flourished, it was a disappointing day for the Indian men's contingent as both Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty exited at the pre-quarterfinal stage. Sen, who had recently snapped a three-year streak of first-round exits at this event, was unable to maintain his momentum. Despite a hard-fought opening game, he ultimately fell to Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu with a score of 20-22, 15-21 in a 53-minute encounter.

Young Ayush Shetty also bowed out, though he earned significant praise for pushing the tournament's top seed, Shi Yu Qi, to the absolute limit. In a grueling 70-minute "slugfest," Shetty managed to snatch the second game before eventually succumbing to the Chinese veteran 18-21, 21-18, 12-21. Despite the losses in the men's draw, Sindhu’s dominant form remains a major bright spot for India as the competition moves into the final rounds.

India's success at the tournament wasn't limited to the singles court, as the elite men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also made their mark. The former world No. 1 pair delivered a professional performance on Wednesday, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Yang Po-Hsuan and Lee Jhe-Hue 21-13, 21-15. Their 35-minute victory ensured their progression into the pre-quarterfinals, keeping India's title hopes alive across multiple categories.