PV Sindhu Eliminated from Arctic Open 2026

PV Sindhu's Exit from the Arctic Open

India's star badminton player and two-time Olympic medalist, PV Sindhu, faced elimination from the Arctic Open 2026 after a tough match against Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon. The quarterfinals saw Sindhu lose in a three-game battle, marking the end of India's journey in this BWF Super 500 tournament.

Sindhu, who was seeded sixth, lost with scores of 21-11, 19-21, and 21-18 to the top-seeded Intanon, a former world champion. This defeat was particularly significant as it marked Sindhu's sixth consecutive loss to Intanon, who now leads their overall encounters 10-4.

Match Breakdown

In the first game, Sindhu struggled to find her footing, allowing Intanon to take an early 5-1 lead. Although Sindhu managed to narrow the gap to 11-8 at the interval, Intanon regained momentum after the break, winning 10 of the next 13 points to clinch the game. In the second game, Sindhu showed resilience, taking the lead at the interval and pushing ahead to 17-14. Despite Intanon's comeback, Sindhu rallied to win four consecutive points, forcing a decisive third game.

The final game was tightly contested, with both players tied at 17-17. However, Intanon seized the moment, scoring three consecutive points to reach match point, ultimately converting her second opportunity to secure the win.

Conclusion of India's Campaign

India's participation in the tournament concluded later that day when the men's doubles team of Krishna Prasad Garaga and Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy lost their quarterfinal match against Denmark's Christian Faust Kjær and Rasmus Kjær. The Indian duo fell short with scores of 21-13, 21-14, ending their run in Vantaa. Indian players are set to compete next at the Denmark Open 2026, which kicks off on Tuesday.