Singapore Open 2025: Sindhu, Lakshya, Satwik-Chirag, Tanisha-Dhruv reach QFs
Synopsis
India sent four pairs and players into the Singapore Open quarter-finals on a single day — but the real headline is what awaits Sindhu next: world No. 1 An Se-young, against whom she has lost all eight previous meetings. A ninth attempt, on the biggest stage of the week, is the defining contest of India's campaign.
Key Takeaways
PV Sindhu beat Japan's Riko Gunji 21-9, 21-12 in 37 minutes to reach the Singapore Open quarter-finals.
Sindhu next faces world No.
1 and reigning Olympic champion An Se-young , against whom she has lost all 8 previous meetings.
Satwik-Chirag survived a three-game battle against Chinese Taipei's Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan , winning 21-15, 11-21, 21-18 .
Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila recovered from an 8-21 first-game loss to win 21-17, 21-16 against Japan's Taguchi-Watanabe .
Lakshya Sen advanced after Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn retired just 2 points into their round-of-16 match.
HS Prannoy was set to play former world champion Loh Kean Yew later on Thursday for a quarter-final spot.
PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and mixed doubles pair Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila all advanced to the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open on Thursday, 28 May, giving India a commanding presence in the last eight across four disciplines. Crasto and Kapila's three-game comeback from a first-game collapse stood out as the day's most dramatic result.
Sindhu Cruises, Faces Toughest Test Next
PV Sindhu produced another commanding straight-games performance, dismantling Japan's Riko Gunji 21-9, 21-12 in just 37 minutes. The two-time Olympic medallist controlled rallies from the outset and never allowed Gunji to find a foothold in the contest.
Sindhu had already accounted for Indonesian fifth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani in the opening round, and she carries that form into the quarter-finals without having dropped a game. Her next opponent, however, represents a formidable obstacle — reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young, against whom Sindhu has a losing record across all 8 previous meetings.
Satwik-Chirag Grind Through Three Games
Fourth-seeded men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were made to work hard by Chinese Taipei's Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan. After a composed 21-15 opening game, the Indians were undone in the second, conceding it 11-21 as their opponents seized momentum.
The deciding game was tense deep into its closing stages before Satwik and Chirag steadied to claim a 21-18 win. They next face Malaysia's Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing for a semi-final berth.
Tanisha-Dhruv Stage Stunning Comeback
The standout turnaround of the day came from Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila, who were completely outplayed in the opening game against Japan's Maya Taguchi and Yuta Watanabe, losing it 8-21. The Indian pair regrouped, deploying aggressive net play and tighter defence to shift the contest decisively, winning the second and third games 21-17 and 21-16 respectively.
The victory is a timely confidence boost for a duo that had struggled for consistency in recent tournaments. In the quarter-finals, they face Malaysian world No. 4 pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei.
Lakshya Through After Vitidsarn Retirement
Lakshya Sen, the Paris 2024 silver medallist, progressed to the quarter-finals under unusual circumstances. Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn retired after just 2 points had been played in their round-of-16 clash, sending the Indian through with barely a minute on court. Lakshya will face Japan's Koki Watanabe in the last eight.
Prannoy vs Loh Still to Come
HS Prannoy was scheduled to take on former world champion and local favourite Loh Kean Yew later on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals, adding further Indian interest to an already productive day at the Singapore Open.
Point of View
But the draws reveal a steep climb ahead. Sindhu's 0-8 record against An Se-young is the defining subplot — every win she has posted this week becomes background noise if that streak extends to nine. Satwik-Chirag's second-game capitulation against a lower-ranked Chinese Taipei pair is a concern that sharper opponents will exploit. And Lakshya, handed a walkover, enters the quarter-finals without the match rhythm that a genuine contest would have provided — a double-edged gift heading into a tough draw.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did PV Sindhu beat to reach the Singapore Open quarter-finals?
PV Sindhu defeated Japan's Riko Gunji 21-9, 21-12 in 37 minutes on 28 May to advance to the quarter-finals. She had also beaten Indonesian fifth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani in the opening round.
Who will Sindhu face in the Singapore Open quarter-finals?
Sindhu will face reigning Olympic champion and world No. 1 An Se-young of South Korea in the quarter-finals. Sindhu has not beaten An Se-young in any of their 8 previous meetings.
How did Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila reach the quarter-finals?
Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila staged a comeback after losing the first game 8-21 to Japan's Maya Taguchi and Yuta Watanabe, winning the next two games 21-17 and 21-16 to progress.
How did Lakshya Sen qualify for the Singapore Open quarter-finals?
Lakshya Sen advanced after Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn retired just 2 points into their round-of-16 match. He will face Japan's Koki Watanabe in the quarter-finals.
Who do Satwik-Chirag play in the Singapore Open quarter-finals?
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will face Malaysia's Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing for a place in the semi-finals, after beating Chinese Taipei's Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan 21-15, 11-21, 21-18.
