Asian Games 2026: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda Lead India to 3-0 Win Over Kazakhstan, Set Up Japan Quarterfinal

New Delhi, September 20: India went past Kazakhstan 3-0 in the women's team event at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Sunday, September 20. With this win, the Indian women's team has set up a challenging quarterfinal against Asian badminton powerhouses and hosts Japan.

The Indian shuttlers put up a splendid display at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium, with Indian badminton veteran PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma completing a 3-0 clean sweep without breaking a sweat.

Sindhu & Unnati Put India Ahead In No Time

Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, ranked 11th in the world, needed just over 20 minutes to defeat Kamila Smagulova 21-7, 21-9 in the opening round. Kazakhstan's top woman shuttler Kamila's BWF world ranking is a lowly 426.

"We have a good team, and Japan also is a good, strong team, so it's going to be a tough one. Each match is important, and it is going to be a good match, so hoping for the best, and I hope we win," Sindhu said after her match, quoted by PTI.

Sindhu said she was mindful of the responsibility that came with being one of the more experienced players in the Indian contingent, especially with several girls making their Asian Games debut. She added that she tried to guide them by pointing out what they were doing well, highlighting mistakes and offering suggestions on how they could improve their game.

It was the fourth Asian Games for PV Sindhu, having won the historic silver medal earlier in Jakarta at the 2018 Asian Games in the women's individual event.

World No. 24 Unnati Sharma then made light work of Alissa Kuleshova, ranked 866th in the world, cruising to a 21-7, 21-10 victory in just 22 minutes. World No. 26 Tanvi Sharma wrapped up the tie in even quicker fashion, dispatching Diana Namenova, ranked 1,067th, 21-5, 21-10.

Japan Await in Quarterfinals

India's women's badminton team now faces a significant challenge in the quarterfinals, with Japan standing between them and a place in the medal rounds. India had failed to win a medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games after their campaign ended with a quarterfinal defeat to Thailand.

The hosts will present a formidable test, particularly in singles, with three players ranked inside the world's top 10. Akane Yamaguchi is currently No. 3, followed by Tomoka Miyazaki at No. 7 and former world champion Nozomi Okuhara at No. 10.

The projected singles clashes could see PV Sindhu line up against Yamaguchi, while Unnati Sharma may face Miyazaki. In women's doubles, India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand could be up against Japan's world No. 3 pairing of Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto.

A victory over Japan would put India into the semifinals, where South Korea could await. The Korean squad features world No. 1 An Se-young in singles and the reigning world champion women's doubles pair of Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee.

India's women's team has won just one Asian Games medal, claiming bronze at the 2014 edition in Incheon. Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and the doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy were part of the side that defeated Thailand 3-2 before going down 1-3 to South Korea in the semifinals.