Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has secured a spot in the semifinals of the prestigious Malaysia Open Super 1000 tournament. Her path to the Last 4 was paved after her opponent, former world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan, was forced to retire due to an injury during their quarterfinal clash on Friday, January 9, 2026.
A One-Set Dominance
The match was cut short after just one set, which Sindhu dominated completely. The Indian shuttler wrapped up the opening set with a convincing scoreline of 21-11 in a mere 12 minutes. Yamaguchi, who took to the court wearing a knee brace, struggled with her movement from the very beginning, unable to counter Sindhu's aggressive play.
Sindhu, continuing the formidable form she displayed in her previous match, unleashed a barrage of powerful shots. She built an early and commanding lead of 10-2, using sharp, swinging shots from the back and precise down-the-line winners. Yamaguchi, renowned for her defensive prowess, was visibly hampered, showing frustration as her shots frequently missed their marks.
Yamaguchi's Struggle and Concession
The Japanese player's strategy appeared to be to keep Sindhu pinned to the back of the court and limit her attacking opportunities. While this approach earned her 11 points, it was not enough against Sindhu's relentless offense. Yamaguchi, the World No. 3, decided she could not continue after losing the first set, informing the chair umpire of her decision to retire.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Sindhu, the World No. 18. It is her first semifinal appearance at a Super 1000 level event in three years. The win showcases her improving speed and tactical execution under new coaching guidance.
A Tricky Semifinal Awaits
The road ahead does not get easier for the two-time Olympic medalist. In the semifinals, Sindhu will face the winner of the match between China's World No. 2 Wang Zhiyi and Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani. Wardani has proven to be a tricky opponent for Sindhu in recent times, having defeated her in their last two encounters, including at the Paris World Championships.
However, Sindhu's current form and enhanced court coverage make her a formidable challenger for either player. A win against Wang Zhiyi would also represent another high-profile scalp for the Indian, adding to her recent victory over the Chinese star.
In other Indian interest at the Malaysia Open, the top men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were scheduled to play their quarterfinal match against Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri later on the same day at the Axiata Arena.
