Badminton
PV Sindhu reaches Australian Open semi-finals, Tanvi Sharma’s run ends
Sindhu advanced to the last four with a dominant straight-games win and will now face top seed Akane Yamaguchi in Sydney.
PV Sindhu in action at the Syed Modi India International 2024. (Photo Credit: Abhishek Mishra)
PV Sindhu moved a step closer to ending her title drought after powering into the women's singles semi-finals of the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament in Sydney on Friday.
The two-time Olympic medallist produced a clinical performance in the quarter-finals, defeating Chinese Taipei's Chen Su Yu 21-6, 21-9 in just 27 minutes. The third seed controlled the contest from the outset, using her experience and superior court coverage to dominate both games and seal her place in the last four.
Sindhu will now face top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in a highly anticipated semi-final clash. The Indian shuttler holds a narrow 15-13 advantage in their head-to-head record, setting up an intriguing contest between two of the most experienced players on the women's circuit.
The semi-final appearance marks an encouraging turnaround for Sindhu, who has endured an inconsistent season while searching for her best form on the BWF World Tour. She is also chasing her first title since winning the Syed Modi International in December 2024.
Tanvi's impressive campaign comes to an end
Earlier in the day, teenage sensation Tanvi Sharma saw her impressive run at the tournament come to an end against Yamaguchi.
The Indian youngster, who had registered notable wins earlier in the week, was beaten 21-14, 21-14 by the world No. 3 Japanese player in a match lasting 32 minutes.
Despite the defeat, the tournament represented another positive step in the development of the reigning World Junior Championships silver medallist, who continues to establish herself on the senior international circuit.
Sindhu had reached the quarter-finals after overcoming compatriot Isharani Baruah in the pre-quarterfinal stage and has looked increasingly confident throughout the tournament.
With several top contenders already eliminated, the former world champion will fancy her chances of making the final as she continues her pursuit of a long-awaited BWF World Tour title.
India's hopes in the women's singles competition now rest solely on Sindhu, who will look to carry her dominant form into the semi-finals against one of her biggest rivals on the international stage.