PV Sindhu Squanders Match Points, Lakshya Sen Crashes Out as Srikanth and Tanvi Advance
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Indian badminton experienced a day of stark contrasts at the Denmark Open 2026 on Tuesday, marked by the shocking opening-round eliminations of marquee shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen alongside gritty, hard-fought victories by veteran Kidambi Srikanth and young prodigy Tanvi Sharma. Two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu suffered an agonising collapse from the brink of victory against Germany’s Yvonne Li, while Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen fell to Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen, continuing a frustrating sequence of early-round exits on the international tour.
Heartbreak for Sindhu: Two Points From Victory Before Yvonne Li's Comeback
The women's singles clash saw former world champion PV Sindhu lose control of an encounter she had virtually sealed:
Dominant Opening Frame: Sindhu set an aggressive tempo in the first game, relying on steep cross-court smashes and precise net coverage to cruise through 21-13.
Marathon Second-Game Stumble: Germany's Yvonne Li countered with relentless defense in an exhausting second game, edging past the Indian star 25-23 in a tense deuce finish to force a decider.
Late Collapse in the Decider: In the third set, Sindhu established an authoritative 19-15 cushion and stood just two points away from the second round. However, unforced errors crept into her rallies, allowing Li to snatch six consecutive points and take the game 21-19, sealing a stunning upset.
Lakshya Sen's Slump Deepens: Eighth First-Round Defeat of the Season
In the men's singles draw, Lakshya Sen's competitive dry spell persisted as veteran Chou Tien Chen outlasted the Indian star:
Early Advantage Slipped: Lakshya looked sharp in the opening game, using brisk court mobility to dictate exchanges and pocket the first set 21-18.
Chou Tien Chen's Tactical Rebound: The seasoned Chinese Taipei shuttler shifted gears in the subsequent games, pinning Lakshya to the baseline and dominating long rallies to claim the next two sets 21-13 and 21-15.
Prolonged Form Dip: The defeat marks Lakshya’s eighth first-round elimination across international tournaments this season, extending a downward trend in form following his runner-up finish at the All England Open.
Srikanth and Tanvi Carry the Indian Flag: Tough Round of 16 Clashes Ahead
Despite the twin blows to India's frontline stars, Kidambi Srikanth and Tanvi Sharma delivered determined displays to keep national hopes alive in Odense:
Srikanth's Clinical Straight-Game Win: Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth displayed trademark poise in clutch moments, fending off France's Arnaud Merkle 22-20, 21-19 in a nerve-wracking straight-games contest to earn a demanding pre-quarterfinal clash against world No. 8 Alex Lanier.
Tanvi Sharma's Gutsy Decider: Rising women's singles talent Tanvi Sharma produced one of the day’s standout performances, conquering Japan's experienced Natsuki Nidaira in a thrilling three-game battle, prevailing 21-17, 16-21, 21-19 to punch her ticket to the pre-quarterfinals.
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