Archive · 22 Sep 2026
PV Sindhu loses to Akane Yamaguchi as Japan leads India
PV Sindhu of India played Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in badminton.
Their match was the first part of a team quarterfinal.
Sindhu won the first game by a close score of 23-21.
Yamaguchi won the second game 21-18.
Yamaguchi then won the final game 21-11.
This gave Japan the first point and a 1-0 lead.
India needed to win the next matches to continue toward the medal rounds.
India had earlier beaten Kazakhstan 3-0.
The reports show the game scores in different orders in one account, but agree that Yamaguchi won in three games.
Akane Yamaguchi defeated India’s PV Sindhu in three games in the Asian Games women’s team quarterfinal.
Sindhu won the opening game 23-21, but Yamaguchi took the second 21-18.
Yamaguchi dominated the decider 21-11, giving Japan a 1-0 lead.
Unnati Hooda was scheduled to face Tomoka Miyazaki in the second rubber.
India had previously beaten Kazakhstan 3-0 in the Round of 16 and must win the remaining matches to stay in contention.
- Who
- India’s PV Sindhu and Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi played the opening singles match; Unnati Hooda was due to play Tomoka Miyazaki next.
- What
- Yamaguchi defeated Sindhu, giving Japan a 1-0 lead over India in the women’s badminton team quarterfinal.
- When
- Tuesday, during the Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal.
- Where
- Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium, Ichinomiya City, Japan.
- Why
- The match was part of the women’s team quarterfinal, with India trying to advance to the medal rounds.
- Competition
- Asian Games 2026 women’s badminton team quarterfinal
- Opening tie score
- Japan led India 1-0
- Match result
- Akane Yamaguchi defeated PV Sindhu in three games
- Game scores
- Sindhu won the first 23-21; Yamaguchi won the second 21-18 and decider 21-11
- Previous round
- India defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 in the Round of 16
- Sindhu’s previous result
- She defeated Kazakhstan’s Kamila Smagulova 21-7, 21-9
- Qualification stakes
- India needed to win the remaining matches to keep its medal-round hopes alive
- Head-to-head
- Sindhu still led Yamaguchi 16-15 after the defeat
