Asian Games 2026: No Medals for Indian Singles as Sindhu Bowed Out

Ichenomia – On 27 September, the Asian Games 2026 concluded for India’s badminton contingent as PV Sindhu fell in the women’s singles quarter‑final to China’s Chen Yu Fei, 21‑11, 18‑21, 10‑21. Sindhu’s early surge in the first game could not be sustained, and the match slipped away in the subsequent two sets.

The defeat capped a grueling 24‑hour stretch for Sindhu, who had already contested two other matches. After a convincing 21‑11 opening set, the second game became a tactical duel, with Sindhu briefly ahead 11‑10 before Chen levelled at 16‑16 and secured the set 21‑18. The final set saw Sindhu unable to recover, losing 10‑21.

India’s broader badminton campaign generated only a bronze medal from the men’s team event. No singles, doubles, or mixed pairs added to the tally. Earlier, Unnati faced three‑time world champion Akane Yamaguchi and lost 16‑21, 21‑14, 17‑21.

In women’s doubles, bronze‑medal winners Tereza Jolley and Gayatri Gopichand were defeated by Malaysia’s No.5 pair Thina Murali Dharan and Pearl Tan, 21‑18, 21‑8. Mixed doubles saw Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila push world No.1 Chinese pair Yan Jie Feng and Dongping Huang to a third game but ultimately fell 14‑21, 21‑18, 18‑21.

The quarter‑final loss marks the end of India’s singles aspirations and leaves the country without any individual badminton medals at the 2026 Asian Games.