JAKARTA, Jan 21 – India’s badminton powerhouses PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth kicked off the Indonesia Masters 2026 with commanding first-round victories, setting the stage for deeper tournament runs. In a thrilling women’s singles clash, Sindhu overcame Japan’s Manami Suizu 22-20, 21-18, showcasing her trademark resilience.
The opening game saw Sindhu trail 2-11 at the mid-break, but she mounted a ferocious comeback, reeling off six straight points to seize control. Her precision smashes and deft net play turned the tide, clinching the game narrowly. In the second, Sindhu dominated from the outset, maintaining a steady lead to seal the win.
Next up for Sindhu is a potential showdown with Denmark’s Line Kjaersfeldt or China’s Han Qianxi, promising another high-stakes battle. Meanwhile, in men’s singles, Srikanth outlasted Japan’s Koki Watanabe in a gripping three-game thriller: 21-15, 21-23, 24-22.
Srikanth cruised the first game with aggressive strokes, but errors cost him the second. In the decider, despite leading 7-4, he faced intense pressure, yet his clutch attacking play in the final moments delivered victory. He’ll now face fourth seed Chou Tien Chen, a formidable challenge.
Other Indian results were mixed. Anmol Kharb and Aakarshi Kashyap qualified for the main draw in women’s singles, but Aakarshi fell in three games in her opener, and Kiran George lost in straight sets. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto and Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gaddam exited early against French pairs.
With tough opponents ahead, Sindhu and Srikanth must elevate their games to chase glory in Jakarta. Their early wins inject optimism into India’s campaign at this Super 500 event.