Asian Games: PV Sindhu’s comeback falls short against Japan’s Yamaguchi

Ishinomaki City – On Tuesday, PV Sindhu entered the women’s team quarter‑final of the Asian Games 2026 with a strong head‑to‑head advantage over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi but was unable to maintain it. After a nail‑biting first game that stretched to 23‑21, Sindhu took the second set 21‑18, erasing a 12‑17 hole.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the third game as Yamaguchi seized control, leading 4‑11 at the midway point and eventually winning 21‑11. The result handed Japan a 1‑0 edge in the team tie.

The matchup marked the 30th meeting between the two, narrowing Sindhu’s lead to 16‑15. Unnati Hooda will represent India next, facing Tomoka Miyazaki in an effort to level the score.

India’s women’s badminton squad has only one Asian Games medal – a bronze from Incheon 2014 – and failed to progress beyond the quarter‑finals in the 2023 edition after a straight‑sets loss to Thailand.