Hylo Open 2026: Sindhu, Anmol Set Up All-Indian Semi-Final; Lakshya Sen Into Last Four
PV Sindhu and Anmol Kharb set up an all-Indian clash, while Lakshya Sen fights back to enter the semi-finals at the Hylo Open 2026.
Indian badminton has taken center stage at the Hylo Open 2026 in Germany, as the nation's top shuttlers deliver dominant performances to secure spots in the semi-finals. In a thrilling turn of events at the Saarlandhalle, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and rising star Anmol Kharb have set the stage for an all-Indian showdown in the women's singles, while Lakshya Sen staged a gritty comeback to enter the men's singles final four.
PV Sindhu Dominates in Record Time
Second seed PV Sindhu displayed a masterclass in control, breezing into the semi-finals with an emphatic straight-games victory. Facing Denmark's Amalie Schulz, Sindhu left no room for error, winning 21-12, 21-10 in a match that lasted a mere 28 minutes.
From the first serve, Sindhu dictated the tempo, ensuring Schulz never held the lead in either game. This victory further cements Sindhu's superiority over the Danish player, marking her second consecutive win against Schulz after a similar straight-games triumph at the Thailand Open earlier this year.
Anmol Kharb Outlasts Unnati Hooda in Youth Clash
In a high-stakes encounter between two of India's brightest 19-year-old talents, Anmol Kharb emerged victorious over sixth seed Unnati Hooda. The match, which lasted 68 minutes, was the first time the two young shuttlers faced each other on the BWF World Tour.
The battle was a rollercoaster of momentum:
- First Game: After a tight 6-6 start, Anmol found her rhythm to take the opening game 21-17.
- Second Game: Unnati fought back strongly, leading 15-11. Although Anmol leveled the score at 18-18, Unnati closed the game 21-18 to force a decider.
- Third Game: Unnati initially raced to a 6-3 lead, but Anmol showcased incredible resilience. After narrowing the gap to 12-11, Anmol unleashed a breathtaking run of eight straight points to lead 19-12, eventually sealing the match 21-16.
Lakshya Sen’s Gritty Comeback
The men's singles saw seventh seed Lakshya Sen fight through a challenging encounter against Finland’s Kalle Koljonen. In a match spanning one hour and six minutes, Sen overcame a slow start to win 14-21, 21-17, 21-13.
Koljonen took the first game after a competitive 6-6 start, putting Sen on the back foot. However, the Indian shuttler responded in the second game, maintaining a narrow but steady lead to force a third set.
The decider remained balanced at 4-4 before Lakshya shifted gears, scoring four consecutive points to seize control. He maintained this momentum until the end, securing a vital victory. This semi-final appearance is a significant milestone for Sen, marking his first individual BWF World Tour last-four finish since he was the runner-up at the All England Open in March.