PV Sindhu delivered one of her best performances of the season on Thursday, outclassing world No. 5 Han Yue of China in straight games to reach the quarterfinals of the Japan Open Super 750 badminton tournament. The world No. 10 Indian wrapped up a commanding 21-16, 21-14 victory in just 35 minutes in their second-round contest, a result that keeps her campaign alive as India’s lone remaining challenge in the event.
The win stood out not only for its margin and speed, but also because it came against a higher-ranked opponent. Sindhu’s ability to turn the match around after a slow opening and then seize full control in the second game underlined the quality of her display.
How Sindhu took control against Han Yue
Sindhu’s start was described as sluggish, but she found her rhythm midway through the opening game. Once settled, she began striking the shuttle cleanly and dictating rallies, shifting the momentum in her favour to close out the first game 21-16.
The second game was even more one-sided. Sindhu surged to an 8-0 lead, putting immediate pressure on Han and creating a gap that proved decisive. From there, she maintained control and comfortably sealed the match 21-14 to complete a straight-games victory.
With the result, Sindhu also strengthened her record against Han, improving her head-to-head to 8-1. The latest win adds another significant chapter to a rivalry that has largely tilted in the Indian star’s favour.
Next up: Nozomi Okuhara
Sindhu will next face Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the quarterfinals. Okuhara advanced after receiving a walkover in the second round, following the withdrawal of top seed An Se-young of South Korea from their scheduled match.
The quarterfinal meeting sets up a familiar matchup for Sindhu, who now has a clear next hurdle after her emphatic second-round performance.
India’s other challenge ends in mixed doubles
While Sindhu moved into the last eight, India’s mixed doubles hopes ended in the pre-quarterfinals. Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila were beaten by the top-seeded Chinese pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping in their round-of-16 clash.
The Indian duo pushed the favourites in a competitive match but went down 20-22, 17-21 in 47 minutes. Their exit leaves Sindhu as India’s lone survivor in the tournament, adding extra weight to her quarterfinal run at the Japan Open Super 750.
