Badminton

PV Sindhu Advances to Asian Games Quarter-Finals as India Sweeps Kabaddi Gold

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Sep 26, 2026, 22:14 IST

PV Sindhu secured a dominant straight-games victory to reach the badminton quarter-finals at the 2026 Asian Games, while India celebrated a golden double in the men's and women's kabaddi finals.

PV Sindhu Advances to Asian Games Quarter-Finals as India Sweeps Kabaddi Gold

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has successfully navigated her way into the women's singles quarter-finals at the 2026 Asian Games. Competing at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Saturday, Sindhu delivered a commanding performance to overcome Japan's Tomoka Miyazaki in straight games.

The match lasted 41 minutes, with Sindhu asserting her authority early on. She claimed the opening game 21-9 in just 18 minutes before maintaining her momentum to secure the second game 21-13. By controlling the pace of the match and preventing Miyazaki from establishing any consistent rhythm, Sindhu ensured her progression to the next stage of the tournament.

Mixed Fortunes on the Badminton Court

While Sindhu celebrated her advancement, the men's singles campaign for India came to a close on the same day. Ayush Shetty was eliminated following a challenging quarter-final encounter against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-Chen. After dropping the first game 16-21, Shetty mounted a spirited recovery to take the second 21-19, forcing a decider. However, Chou proved more clinical in the final stages, winning the third game 21-17 to end the match 2-1 in his favor.

Kabaddi Dominance for India

Beyond the badminton courts, India enjoyed a triumphant day in kabaddi at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium. The nation completed a golden sweep, with both the men’s and women’s teams overcoming Iran in high-stakes finals. The women’s squad successfully defended their title with a narrow 37-34 victory, showcasing their resilience in a tight contest.

The men’s kabaddi final provided further drama, as the Indian side executed a crucial second-half comeback to defeat Iran 40-34. This victory marks a significant milestone, as the men's team secured their ninth Asian Games gold medal in the sport. Following these results, attention now shifts to the remaining badminton fixtures as Sindhu prepares for her upcoming quarter-final challenge.