&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Asian Games: PV Sindhu shines as India crush Kazakhstan to reach quarterfinals")
India’s women’s badminton team began its Asian Games 2026 campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Kazakhstan in the Round of 16 at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Sunday (Sep 20). PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma all won their respective singles matches in straight games, giving India an unassailable lead and booking their place in the quarter-finals without losing a game.
Since India had already secured the tie, the two scheduled doubles matches were cancelled.
Sindhu, Hooda and Tanvi shine
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu gave India the perfect start against Kamila Smagulova and completed a comfortable 21-7, 21-9 victory in just 24 minutes. Sindhu controlled the match from the beginning and never allowed her opponent to settle.
Unnati Hooda then extended India’s lead by defeating Alissa Kuleshova 21-7, 21-10 in 22 minutes.
Tanvi Sharma sealed the tie in the third singles match against Diana Namenova and produced another dominant performance, winning 21-5, 21-10 in only 19 minutes.
Trending Stories
)
Nigeria: Protesters take to the streets, police fire shots
)
US-Iran war: Tehran draws red lines — seven demands before any peace talks
)
Russia-Europe tensions: Polish PM warns Russian attacks could test NATO's unity
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Not the US or China’: These are the countries leading the world in arable land
)
Mark Carney mimics Trump in hilarious moment over C$70 billion clean-energy investment; room erupts in laughter
)
Delhi voter roll shake-up: 3.31 million electors flagged in SIR review
)
‘End of my career...’: NSA Doval recalls tense Sikkim mission when China captured Indian intelligence team
)
Report: Iran rebuilding Taleghan 2, nuclear site tied to past weapons research, hit twice by Israel
)
Trump defends AI amid growing alarm, announces new 'AI force' and promises an 'AI czar'
)
Iran sets 7 conditions to end war with US: What are Tehran’s demands?
)
Trump announces ‘AI Force’ as debate grows over AI risks and regulation
)
China may have gained access to US's classified F-35 jets; parts meant for repairs diverted to Hong Kong, sparking Pentagon inquiry
)
Gaza under attack: Health chief's son killed in IDF strikes
)
Arvind Kejriwal, family members, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta get SIR notices
)
Cochin shipyard starts building Indian Navy's next-gen missile vessels
)
Saudi vs Houthis: Houthis claim missiles & drones used in attack on key Saudi sites
)
Ed Sheeran addresses Macklemore's removal, Gaza conflict during Philadelphia concert: 'I cannot hide how I feel'
)
‘Will go to any extent’: Pakistan vows to defend Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
66 years of the Indus Waters Treaty: How India and Pakistan settled a bitter river dispute
)
The Verdict | When precision fails: US commits war crime in Minab school strike, UN finds
Russia attacks Ukraine with 174 drones, kills 8; 2 vessels hit in Black Sea
)
9 women found dead near Johannesburg: South Africans rally, demand 'enough' to femicide
)
Kampala-Ankara rift deepens: Uganda suspends military ties, seeks Fred Lumbuye's extradition
)
Trump wants to rename ‘Artificial Intelligence’, gives 3 options: Which one would you pick?
)
US-Iran war: Tehran sets seven conditions to re-engage in talks with US
)
Reacher star Alan Ritchson opens up about alleged blackmail, suicide attempt during difficult period
)
Africa is splitting, and a lot sooner than estimated, giving way to a new ocean
)
Flying cars in UAE: Ras Al Khaimah signs deal with Chinese company to test new transport
)
Trump bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House over ‘FAKE NEWS’
)
Trump 2.0: Dark days ahead for America’s ‘imperial presidency’
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many F-35s does Britain, Japan and Israel have?
)
Harry Brook targets long reign at top of T20I rankings after Sri Lanka sweep
)
Russia's deadly Ukraine strikes kill 2 in Sumy, hit Dnipro mall
)
Russia holds first parliamentary elections since the beginning of the Ukraine war
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 Indian batters with fastest T20I centuries
)
Raphinha hat-trick powers Barcelona to 3-1 win over Sevilla in La Liga
)
)
Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were scheduled to play Nargiza Rakhmetullayeva and Aisha Zhumabek, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela were set to face Kuleshova and Namenova. However, both matches were called off after India secured the required three wins.
India have never won gold in the women’s team event at the Asian Games. Their best results are bronze medals from the 1982 New Delhi Games and the 2014 Incheon Games.
India will next face hosts Japan in the quarter-finals on Sept 22, with the tie scheduled to begin at 6:00 am IST.
The Indian men’s badminton team will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on Sep 21 at 11:30 am IST and the squad includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila.