PV Sindhu has continued her dominant run, easily qualifying for the quarterfinals of the 2026 Singapore Open Super 750. On Thursday, the two-time Olympic medalist played a brilliant match at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, defeating Japan’s Riko Gunji in straight games, 21-9, 21-12. Going into the match, Sindhu held the upper hand as the World No. 11, while her younger opponent, Gunji, currently stands at No. 19 in the BWF Women's World Rankings.
PV Sindhu marches into Malaysia Open quarterfinals
Right from the opening serve, Sindhu was completely in charge of the court. Utilizing her height and long reach, she unleashed a barrage of powerful smashes that Gunji simply could not handle. The Indian star quickly built a massive 18-9 lead in the first game as Gunji spent most of her time on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Sindhu's blistering pace and smart shot placement. In no time at all, Sindhu comfortably wrapped up the opening game 21-9.
The second game followed a very similar script. While Gunji tried to extend the rallies in hopes of wearing her opponent down, Sindhu remained thoroughly calm and focused. After securing a 12-8 lead midway through the game, she kept the pressure high, brilliantly controlling the tempo and forcing Gunji into making critical errors. Maintaining her composure until the very end, Sindhu smoothly closed out the game 21-12 to seal the match.
This commanding victory proves that Sindhu is playing with immense confidence right now. She kicked off her tournament campaign with a tough, hard-fought victory over Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani, the world's sixth-ranked player. Following up that grueling opener with Thursday's much easier test against Gunji, the Indian ace looks to be in prime form heading into the quarterfinals.
Sindhu to face reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi in quarters
However, the competition is about to get much tougher for PV Sindhu in the next round. In the quarterfinals, she is set to face reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. Yamaguchi earned her spot in the final eight by delivering a dominant performance of her own, easily dismantling Canada’s Michelle Li with a score of 21-14, 21-6.
On the men's side, HS Prannoy secured a stunning victory earlier in the day by upsetting one of the tournament favorites, World No. 5 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia. The 33-year-old Indian veteran, who won bronze medals at both the 2023 World Championships and the Asian Games, battled hard to defeat Christie in a grueling three-game match that lasted just over an hour. This crucial win marks a major milestone for Prannoy, as it is his first victory over Christie in five years. By breaking a head-to-head drought that dated back to the 2021 Indonesia Open, Prannoy successfully improved his lifetime career record against the Indonesian star to 4-7.