India’s badminton star PV Sindhu stormed into the pre-quarterfinals of the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 on Wednesday with a dominant performance against Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan. Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, competing in the men’s singles, suffered an early exit after a tough three-game battle.  

Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist and ranked 20th in the world, needed just 38 minutes to dispatch world No. 11 and eighth-seeded Busanan 21-12, 21-18. Despite trailing 1-5 early in the first game, Sindhu rallied back to take an 11-10 lead at the interval. From there, the Indian ace seized control, reeling off seven consecutive points to claim the opener.  

In the second game, Sindhu’s momentum continued as she extended her streak to 11 unanswered points across both games. While Busanan tried to resist, Sindhu maintained her composure and dominated the latter half of the game, clinching 11 of the last 12 points to seal the match. This victory marked Sindhu’s 19th win over the Thai player in 20 encounters.  

Sindhu will next face Canada’s Michelle Li, who defeated Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira in straight sets in her opening round.  

While Sindhu shone, Lakshya Sen faced disappointment in the men’s singles. The world No. 17 and Paris 2024 semi-finalist fell to Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, ranked 31st, in a grueling 22-20, 17-21, 16-21 contest. 

Sen showed grit in the opening game, overcoming a 16-13 deficit to win. However, the Malaysian shuttler found his rhythm in the second and third games, ultimately outpacing the Indian to secure his spot in the next round.  

India’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also exited early, losing their women’s doubles opener on Tuesday. With their elimination, Sindhu remains India’s lone contender at this BWF Super 500 event.  

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Sindhu to carry India’s hopes forward. A potential showdown with higher-ranked opponents looms, but her commanding form signals she is ready for the challenge.