Indian badminton star PV Sindhu advanced to the semifinals of the BWF Malaysia Open Super 1000 2026 on Friday after her quarterfinal opponent Akane Yamaguchi of Japan retired due to injury.
Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, dominated the early stages of the match at the Stadium Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, taking the opening game 21-11 in just over 10 minutes. She built a decisive lead before Yamaguchi — the third seed and former world champion — signalled that she could not continue, due to an apparent knee issue.
Yamaguchi, who had been wearing a knee brace, struggled to move freely, prompting her to retire early and hand Sindhu a place in the last four.
The victory marks a significant moment in Sindhu’s 2026 season as she eyes further success at one of the year’s premier events. She will next face the winner of the quarterfinal between China’s Wang Zhiyi and Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani in the semifinals.
Sindhu, currently ranked world No. 18, has regained strong form following a layoff and will look to capitalise on this opportunity as the tournament progresses.
