JAKARTA – PV Sindhu scripted a stunning turnaround, and Kidambi Srikanth endured a tense decider to propel India forward in the Indonesia Masters 2026 first round. Sindhu defeated Japan’s Manami Suizu 22-20, 21-18, while Srikanth edged Koki Watanabe 21-15, 21-23, 24-22.
Trailing badly at 2-11 in the first game, Sindhu flipped the script with relentless attacks, notching six consecutive points en route to a hard-fought win. She carried that momentum into the second, outmaneuvering her opponent with superior court coverage.
Srikanth’s encounter was equally dramatic. He powered through the opener with aggressive play, but faltered in the second amid mistakes. In the third, holding a 7-4 advantage, he weathered Watanabe’s fightback, clinching it 24-22 on a crucial smash.
Sindhu’s second-round path crosses with either Denmark’s Line Kjaersfeldt or China’s Han Qianxi. Srikanth draws top challenger Chou Tien Chen. Mixed fortunes elsewhere: Anmol Kharb and Aakarshi Kashyap qualified into women’s main draw, but Aakarshi lost her opener in three games, Kiran George in two. Mixed doubles teams of Kapila/Crasto and Kapoor/Gaddam fell to French pairs.
These results highlight India’s depth yet underscore the challenges ahead. Sindhu and Srikanth’s poise offers hope for medal contention in Jakarta.