New Delhi, January 14, 2026 – Veteran Indian shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy advanced to the Round of 16 at the India Open 2026, notching contrasting victories in their respective opening round matches. The USD 950,000 Super 750 tournament witnessed a mixed day for the home contingent, with some promising performances and a few disappointing exits.
Former world number 1, Srikanth, faced a tough challenge from fellow Indian, Tharun Mannepalli. After losing the first game, Srikanth bounced back to win 15-21, 21-6, 21-19. Srikanth's experience proved crucial as he navigated the pressure to secure a hard-fought victory. After an indifferent opening game, the 32-year-old Srikanth found his way back to defeat compatriot Tharun M.
HS Prannoy, who received a last-minute entry into the tournament following the withdrawal of Anders Antonsen, made the most of the opportunity. The 33-year-old Prannoy outwitted Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu, the runner-up of the previous edition, with a score of 22-20, 21-18. Prannoy, displaying good form, relied on his signature smashes and rallied effectively to frustrate his opponent. The world number 38 saved two game points in the opening game, demonstrating his resilience. Prannoy is set to face Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the next round.
However, it wasn't all good news for the Indian side, as two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu was knocked out of the competition. Sindhu, who had reached the semi-finals of the Malaysia Super 1000 tournament the previous week, lost to Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen with a score of 22-20, 12-21, 15-21. Despite winning the first game, Sindhu couldn't maintain the momentum, allowing Nguyen to take control of the match.
Malvika Bansod was the only other Indian player to advance to the second round on Wednesday, defeating Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-19. Meanwhile, Tanvi Sharma, a 16-year-old world junior championships silver medalist, showed potential but lost to second seed Wang Zhi Yi of China.
The India Open 2026 has drawn attention not only for the competition on the court but also for the conditions at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex. Some players have voiced concerns about the environment, but Srikanth defended the venue, stating that he found the conditions acceptable. He noted that every country presents its own challenges and that minor organizational issues are not unique to any particular host nation.
With Srikanth and Prannoy leading the charge, Indian fans will be hoping for a strong showing from their players as the tournament progresses. The India Open 2024 offers crucial ranking points for the Paris 2024 Olympics, adding further significance to each match.
