Hylo Open 2026: Sindhu, Lakshya Sen advance; Prannoy exits in round one
Synopsis
Sindhu took just 28 minutes to demolish her first-round opponent in Saarbrucken, riding a wave of form from last week's French Open final. Lakshya Sen showed championship grit with a three-game comeback. But Prannoy's inability to convert a tight first game — and exit at the hands of sixth seed Popov — is the story India's badminton fans will not want repeated.
Key Takeaways
PV Sindhu (second seed) beat Prakriti Bharath 21-10, 21-10 in just 28 minutes in Saarbrucken.
Lakshya Sen (seventh seed) came back from a first-game loss to defeat Joakim Oldorff 16-21, 21-9, 21-13 .
HS Prannoy was eliminated by sixth seed Toma Junior Popov (France) 21-23, 16-21 .
Unnati Hooda , Isharani Baruah , Anmol Kharb , and Malvika Bansod all progressed in women's singles.
Ayush Shetty withdrew before the tournament due to a French Open injury; Tharun Mannepalli and Sankar Subramanian also exited.
PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen made confident starts at the BWF Hylo Open 2026 in Saarbrucken, Germany on Wednesday, 29 October, progressing to the second round of the Super 500 tournament. However, HS Prannoy suffered an early exit, becoming one of several Indian casualties on an otherwise encouraging opening day for the Indian contingent.
Sindhu and Sen Cruise Through
Second seed Sindhu was clinical in women's singles, needing just 28 minutes to dismantle Prakriti Bharath of the UAE 21-10, 21-10. The win extends her strong form following a runner-up finish at last week's French Open, signalling she is well set for a deep run in Germany.
Seventh seed Lakshya Sen faced a sterner examination, falling in the opening game against Finland's Joakim Oldorff before mounting a composed comeback. Sen recovered to win 16-21, 21-9, 21-13 in just over an hour, demonstrating the resilience that has defined his recent tournament outings.
Kiran George also advanced with a steady straight-games win over Malaysia's Cheam June Wei, prevailing 21-18, 21-17.
Prannoy Bows Out Early
HS Prannoy was eliminated in a closely contested first-round match against sixth seed Toma Junior Popov of France, losing 21-23, 16-21. Prannoy had a clear opportunity to take the opening game but was unable to convert, allowing Popov to close out the contest in two games. The defeat is a setback for the Indian, who had been in decent form heading into the European leg of the season.
Tharun Mannepalli and Sankar Subramanian also exited the men's draw, losing to Chi Yu Jen of Chinese Taipei and Finland's Kalle Koljonen respectively. Ayush Shetty, who was scheduled to compete, withdrew before the tournament began due to an injury sustained at the French Open last week.
Women's Singles: Mixed Fortunes for India
Sixth seed Unnati Hooda recovered from a slow start to beat Czechia's Tereza Svabikova 17-21, 21-12, 21-11, dropping the first game before asserting control. Isharani Baruah registered a commanding 21-19, 21-9 win over Germany's Miranda Wilson, while Anmol Kharb held her nerve to beat Sri Lanka's Ranithma Liyanage 21-18, 22-20.
In an all-Indian encounter, Malvika Bansod came back from a first-game deficit to defeat Devika Sihag 18-21, 21-10, 21-14 and book her second-round spot.
There were setbacks too: Ashmita Chaliha squandered a first-game lead to lose 18-21, 21-12, 21-8 to Bulgaria's Kaloyana Nalbantova, and Aakarshi Kashyap bowed out 21-12, 21-18 to Ukraine's Polina Buhrova.
What to Watch Next
With Sindhu, Sen, Hooda, Baruah, Kharb, Bansod, and George all through, India retains a strong multi-shuttle presence heading into the second round. The draw for the next round will test whether the top Indian contenders can maintain their momentum through to the knockout stages of the Hylo Open 2026.
Point of View
The depth shown today — seven players through across both draws — is encouraging, but the absence of a second male singles threat behind Sen is a structural gap that one tournament will not fix.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who advanced for India at the BWF Hylo Open 2026 first round?
PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Kiran George, Unnati Hooda, Isharani Baruah, Anmol Kharb, and Malvika Bansod all advanced to the second round of the Hylo Open 2026 in Saarbrucken on 29 October. India's women's singles contingent was particularly productive, with five players progressing.
How did PV Sindhu perform at the Hylo Open 2026 opener?
Sindhu, the second seed, defeated Prakriti Bharath of the UAE 21-10, 21-10 in just 28 minutes, dominating both games. The win follows her runner-up finish at last week's French Open, suggesting she is in strong form heading into the later rounds.
Why did HS Prannoy lose at the Hylo Open 2026?
Prannoy lost to sixth seed Toma Junior Popov of France 21-23, 16-21 in the first round. He had a chance to win the opening game but could not convert, allowing Popov to close out the match in two games.
What happened to Lakshya Sen in his first-round match?
Lakshya Sen lost the first game 16-21 to Finland's Joakim Oldorff before recovering strongly to win 21-9 and 21-13, completing a comeback win in just over an hour. It was an encouraging display of mental resilience from the seventh seed.
Which Indian players were eliminated in the first round of Hylo Open 2026?
HS Prannoy, Tharun Mannepalli, Sankar Subramanian, Ashmita Chaliha, and Aakarshi Kashyap were all eliminated in the first round. Ayush Shetty withdrew before the tournament began due to a French Open injury.
