Vantaa, Finland, October 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the Arctic Open quarterfinals with a straight-game win over Japan’s Riko Gunji in Vantaa on Thursday, setting up a high-profile last-eight clash against top seed and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand.
Sixth-seeded Sindhu defeated Gunji 21-15, 21-15 in 49 minutes to book her place in the quarterfinals, where she will renew her rivalry with Intanon.
The quarterfinal will be the latest chapter in a long-standing contest between the two players, although they have not met since 2022. Intanon leads their head-to-head record 9-4 and has won their last five meetings. Their most recent encounter came at the Indonesia Masters in 2022, where the Thai player prevailed in straight games.
Sindhu will enter the contest with confidence following a strong 2026 season that has already seen her win the Japan Open Super 750 title. She defeated reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi in the final in July to claim one of the biggest titles of her recent career.
Intanon, meanwhile, secured the Malaysia Masters Super 500 title in May after beating China’s Chen Yufei in the final. The top seed booked her quarterfinal berth by defeating India’s Tanvi Sharma 21-18, 21-7.
Tanvi stayed close to Intanon throughout the opening game and levelled the score at 17-17, but the experienced Thai player controlled the closing stages to take the game. The second game was more one-sided, with Intanon producing a seven-point run to establish a 9-2 lead before closing out the match comfortably.
Sindhu also had to work through two competitive games against Gunji but raised her level when it mattered most. The opening game was tied at 15-15 before Sindhu reeled off six consecutive points. Gunji again remained within reach in the second, drawing level at 13-13, but Sindhu responded by winning eight of the next 10 points to seal victory.
India’s men’s singles campaign ended with Tharun Mannepalli losing 21-14, 21-19 to second seed Christo Popov of France. Tharun, who came through qualifying and defeated Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen in the opening round, fought for 50 minutes before bowing out.
His exit followed first-round defeats for Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy and Rounak Chouhan, leaving India without a men’s singles representative in the Super 500 tournament.
India’s men’s doubles campaign, however, remained alive, with Krishna Prasad Garaga and Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy scheduled to face England’s Oliver Butler and Samuel Jones in the round of 16 later on Thursday.
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