India Sweep Kazakhstan 3-0 to Set Up Japan Asian Games Quarterfinal

India swept Kazakhstan 3-0 in the women’s team event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday, with PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma each winning in straight games to set up a quarterfinal against hosts Japan.

At the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium, India did not drop a game across the three singles rubbers. The emphatic result moves the team into a much tougher stage of the competition, where Japan’s depth in singles and doubles will present a significant test.

Sindhu, Unnati and Tanvi complete straight-games sweep

Sindhu, ranked world No. 11, opened the tie against Kazakhstan’s Kamila Smagulova. The Indian stalwart took control from the outset, winning 21-7, 21-9 in 24 minutes against the world No. 426.

Unnati, the world No. 24, followed with another comfortable victory. She defeated Alissa Kuleshova, ranked No. 866, by a 21-7, 21-10 scoreline in 22 minutes to put India 2-0 ahead in the tie.

Tanvi Sharma then sealed the sweep in the quickest of the three matches. The world No. 26 beat Diana Namenova, ranked No. 1067, 21-5, 21-10, ensuring that India progressed without needing a doubles rubber.

The clean 3-0 result gives India a strong start in the knockout phase, but the next assignment represents a clear rise in difficulty. India had returned empty-handed from the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 after losing to Thailand in the quarterfinals, making the meeting with Japan an important opportunity to move beyond that stage.

Japan enter the quarterfinal with three singles players inside the world’s top 10: Akane Yamaguchi at No. 3, Tomoka Miyazaki at No. 7 and Nozomi Okuhara at No. 10. The likely singles match-ups could include Sindhu against Yamaguchi and Unnati against Miyazaki.

India’s women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand could also be called upon against Japan’s world No. 3 combination of Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto.

Japan test awaits as Sindhu embraces leadership role

Sindhu said India are prepared for the challenge posed by the hosts. “We have a good team, and Japan also is a good, strong team, so it’s going to be a tough one,” said the two-time Olympic medallist.

“Each match is important and it is going to be a good match, so hoping for the best, and I hope we win.”

Making her fourth Asian Games appearance, Sindhu is also taking on a leadership role within the Indian group. She has previously won a team bronze and an individual silver at the event.

“A lot of girls are playing at the Asian Games for the first time, so I am taking it in a responsible way,” Sindhu said. “I would tell them what is good and what mistakes they are making, or how they are playing. It’s good to always guide them. Being an experienced player, I think that is a responsibility.”

If India clear the quarterfinal hurdle, a potential semifinal against South Korea awaits. South Korea have world No. 1 An Se-young as well as world champion doubles pair Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee in their line-up.

India’s only women’s team medal at the Asian Games came in 2014 at Incheon. Saina Nehwal, Sindhu, Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy helped India beat Thailand 3-2 before the team lost 1-3 to South Korea in the semifinals.