Hylo Open 2026: Sen, Sindhu Storm Into QFs; Anmol Kharb Stuns 3rd Seed
Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu advance to Hylo Open 2026 quarterfinals, while Anmol Kharb pulls off a massive upset against third seed Line Christophersen.
Indian badminton stars Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu have marched into the quarterfinals of the Hylo Open 2026 in Germany, showcasing a blend of grit and dominance on Thursday night. While the veterans secured their spots, the tournament witnessed a massive shock as young Anmol Kharb knocked out one of the top seeds in a thrilling encounter.
Lakshya Sen Survives All-Indian Clash
In the men's singles pre-quarter-finals, seventh seed Lakshya Sen faced a challenging battle against his own compatriot, Kiran George. The world No. 14 had to dig deep in a 54-minute match at the Saarlandhalle to secure a victory with a scoreline of 21-15, 18-21, 21-12.
Sen started the match on a strong footing, comfortably claiming the first game. He seemed to be cruising in the second game with a 15-10 lead, but Kiran George staged a spirited comeback. George fought back to level the score at 15-all and eventually snatched the second game to force a decider.
However, the Paris 2024 Olympics semi-finalist regained his composure in the final game, dominating the court to seal the win. This victory marks Sen's eighth win in nine meetings against George, and he now stands as India's lone representative remaining in the men's singles draw.
PV Sindhu Cruises to Victory
While Sen had to fight through three games, second seed PV Sindhu made the match look effortless. In a display of sheer power and precision, Sindhu dismantled France's Rosy Oktavia Pancasari in just 26 minutes.
Sindhu dominated every aspect of the game, winning 21-9, 21-6. Her clinical performance sets her up for a quarter-final showdown against Amalie Schulz of Denmark.
Anmol Kharb Pulls Off Massive Upset
The biggest surprise of the day came from Anmol Kharb, who played the role of the giant-killer. The world No. 53 pulled off a stunning upset against Denmark's Line Christophersen, the third seed and world No. 12.
It was a rollercoaster 63-minute contest. Kharb struggled early on, losing the first game 11-21. However, she showed incredible resilience to claw back into the match, winning the second game 21-18. The final game was a nail-biter that went beyond the standard score, with Kharb eventually triumphing 25-23.
Indian Face-Off in Quarter-Finals
Kharb's victory sets up an intriguing all-Indian clash in the quarterfinals, as she will face compatriot Unnati Hooda. Hooda earned her spot after a convincing 21-11, 21-19 victory over Denmark's Frederikke Ostergaard.
Mixed Results for Other Indian Shuttlers
Despite the successes of Sen, Sindhu, Kharb, and Hooda, it was a tough day for other Indian women's singles players:
- Malvika Bansod exited the tournament after losing 21-11, 21-17 to Wen Yu Zhang of Canada.
- Isharani Baruah fell to Denmark's eighth seed Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt, losing 21-14, 21-19.