On Wednesday, India's PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and HS Prannoy secured their spots in the knockout stages of the Paris 2024 Olympics badminton events.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, started the day with a commanding performance in the women’s singles, defeating Estonia’s world No. 73 Kristin Kuuba 21-5, 21-10. Sindhu's win ensured she finished at the top of her group standings. "I'm very happy, and of course," said the 29-year-old Sindhu. "It was important for me to top the group and be its number one."
As the winner of her group, Sindhu advances to the round of 16, where she will face the sixth-seeded He Bingjiao of China on Monday. Sindhu is aware of the challenge ahead, stating, “It won’t be an easy match, but I hope to carry this confidence forward.” He Bingjiao holds an 11-9 edge in their head-to-head record and won their most recent encounter at the Asian Games last year, although Sindhu had triumphed in their Tokyo 2020 bronze medal match.
In men’s singles, both HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen emerged victorious in their final group matches, securing the top spots in their respective groups. They are set to clash in the round of 16 on Monday.
Lakshya Sen delivered a standout performance by defeating the third-seeded Indonesian Jonathan Christie in straight sets, 21-18, 21-12. Christie, the reigning Asian Games and All England champion, initially led with an 8-2 advantage, but Sen rallied by winning seven consecutive points to turn the tide. Despite Christie's strong start, it was Sen who maintained his composure and clinched the victory.
Early unforced errors from the 26-year-old Jonathan Christie in the second game allowed Lakshya Sen to capitalize, as the 22-year-old Indian shuttler gained an 11-6 lead at the break. Sen maintained his momentum and completed the match in 50 minutes.
Later, world No. 13 HS Prannoy, an Asian Games bronze medallist, bounced back from a game down to defeat Vietnam’s 70th-ranked Le Duc Phat with scores of 16-21, 21-11, 21-12. This victory sets up a round of 16 clash between Prannoy and Lakshya Sen.
In the men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured their place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. They are set to face Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.