New Delhi14 January. After a good start to the season by entering the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open 1000 last week, the country’s top female shuttler PV Sindhu, who was hoping for a better performance on the home court, suffered a setback when she crashed out of the competition after losing in the first round of the USD 9.50 lakh Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750 tournament here on Wednesday.
However, former champion Kidambi Srikanth and veteran HS Prannoy defeated their young rivals to enter the second round of men’s singles. In the women’s singles, Malvika Bansod also started with a win while 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma showed her talent with a fighting performance despite the defeat against second seed Wang Xi Yi of China.
PV Sindhu in action at the Yonex Sunrise-India Open 2026!
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— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) January 14, 2026
Sindhu lost in a 68-minute battle against the Vietnamese shuttler.
Two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu could not maintain the momentum despite winning the first game against Thuy Linh Nguyen of Vietnam in the fifth match of the day played on court number one of Indira Gandhi Sports Complex and in a struggle that lasted for 68 minutes, the world number 12 Indian shuttler had to face defeat against the world number 23 Vietnamese player by 22-20, 12-21, 15-21. This is Sindhu’s third consecutive defeat against Nguyen.
Srikanth made a comeback after losing the first set against Tharun
On the other hand, 2015 champion and 34th ranked shuttler Srikanth in the BWF rankings lost his first game against compatriot Tharun Mannepalli on court number two. But they used their experience and made a strong comeback to win 15-21, 21-6, 21-19 in 53 minutes.
Former world number one Srikanth, who is competing in a Super 750 tournament for the first time since the Singapore Open in May, 2025, will next face fifth-seeded Frenchman Christo Popov, the BWF World Tour Finals winner, who defeated Xu Wei Wang of Chinese Taipei 13-21, 21-18, 21-19.
Prannoy ousts defending runner-up Lee Cheuk Yiu
On the other hand, 33-year-old Prannoy defeated defending runner-up Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong 22-20, 21-18 in 41 minutes on court number one. World No. 38 Prannoy, who entered the tournament after the withdrawal of world No. 3 Anders Antonsen of Denmark, will next meet eighth seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, who defeated Wang Zheng Shing of China 23-21, 19-21, 21-14.
Malvika will now challenge fifth seed Hen Yui
In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod was the only Indian to reach the second round. Left-handed shuttler Bansod, who was troubled by injuries in the second half of the last season, defeated Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-19 in a tough match 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes to reach the second round. In the next round, she will face world number five Han Yui of China. Hen Yui defeated Tsung Shuo Yun of Chinese Taipei 18-21, 21-13, 21-17 in the first round.
Tanvi gave a tough competition to second seed Wang Zi Yin
World Junior Championship silver medalist Tanvi Sharma, however, despite giving a tough fight to second seed Wang Xi Yin of China, lost 20-22, 21-18, 13-21 in one hour and nine minutes. Tanvi got many chances, but she could not convert the game point in the first game and fatigue affected her in the deciding game.
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