Ace Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen launched their campaigns in contrasting fashion to advance into the pre-quarterfinals of the Hylo Open 2026 at the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrucken, Germany.
Second-seeded Sindhu, fresh off a runner-up finish in France, needed just 28 minutes to dismiss compatriot Prakriti Bharath in straight games, 21-10, 21-10 on Wednesday.
The two-time Olympic medallist controlled the rallies from the start, dictating the tempo and offering little room for her younger opponent to settle into the contest.
Sen Survives Scare Against Oldorff
In contrast, men’s singles seventh seed Lakshya Sen was forced to dig deep before subduing Finland’s Joakim Oldorff 16-21, 21-9, 21-13 in a 61-minute encounter.
After dropping the opening game to the persistent Finn, the Commonwealth Games champion tightened his net play and increased the pace to dominate the remaining two games and seal his spot in the second round.
The victory ended a run of four consecutive first-round exits for Sen on the BWF World Tour and advanced him to the Round of 16.Sportstar.
He will now meet compatriot Kiran George in an all-Indian clash. George had earlier defeated Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei 21-18, 21-17 to reach the same stage.
Broader Indian Campaign
Several other Indian women also advanced in singles, including Unnati Hooda, Malvika Bansod, Isharani Baruah, and Anmol Kharb. However, Ashmita Chaliha, Aakarshi Kashyap, Devika Sihag, and HS Prannoy were among those who exited in the opening round.
With Round of 16 matches underway, Sindhu and Sen will aim to build on their first-round results and push deeper into the tournament. One Indian is already guaranteed a men’s singles quarterfinal place via the Sen-George meeting.
The Hylo Open, a BWF World Tour Super 500 event, continues through November 1, with the remaining Indian players with a prize purse of US$500,000, targeting strong showings in the knockout stages.
