Ichinomiya City, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s women’s badminton team found itself 0-2 down against Japan in the Asian Games quarterfinal on Tuesday after PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda lost their respective singles matches at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
With Japan needing just one more win to seal the tie, India’s hopes now rest on the women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who are taking on Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto.
Unnati started strongly in the second rubber and led 11-10 at the interval in the opening game. However, the Japanese shuttler regained momentum after the break and took the game 21-16.
The Indian youngster again made an impressive start in the second game, racing to an 11-4 lead. Japan fought back as the game progressed, with Unnati eventually falling behind 15-16. She could not regain control as the Japanese player closed out the game 21-18 to win the match.
Earlier, Sindhu lost the opening rubber to three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi 23-21, 18-21, 11-21.
Sindhu had recovered from a 6-10 deficit in the opening game to level the score at 12-12. She then fought back from 15-18 down, saved a game point and took the game 23-21.
Yamaguchi responded in the second game after Sindhu had reduced a 12-17 deficit to 16-18. The Japanese shuttler restored her advantage and won 21-18.
The decider was largely one-sided, with Yamaguchi taking an 11-4 lead at the interval before completing a 21-11 victory.
The result leaves Sindhu with a 16-15 head-to-head record against Yamaguchi.
India’s women’s team has won one Asian Games medal in the event — a bronze at the 2014 Incheon Games. At the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, India exited in the quarterfinals after losing 0-3 to Thailand.
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