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Sindhu and Anmol Kharb set up all-Indian Hylo Open semi-final; Lakshya also through
In 60 seconds: PV Sindhu and 19-year-old Anmol Kharb set up an all-Indian semi-final at the Hylo Open, a Super 500 badminton event in Saarbrücken, Germany. Second seed Sindhu beat Denmark's Amalie Schulz 21-12, 21-10 in 28 minutes on Friday, while Kharb edged sixth seed Unnati Hooda in three games over 68 minutes. Seventh seed Lakshya Sen also reached the men's semi-finals, beating Finland's Kalle Koljonen 14-21, 21-17, 21-13.
Why it matters
An all-Indian semi-final guarantees India a finalist in women's singles. It also shows a new generation, led by teenager Anmol Kharb, pushing towards the level of veteran Sindhu.
Explain it simply
Two Indians in one semi-final is like two cousins fighting over the last samosa: either way, it stays in the family.
The 3-minute read
What happened
Sindhu never let Schulz lead in either game. Kharb, who had knocked out third seed Line Christophersen of Denmark in the round of 16, beat Hooda 21-17, 18-21, 21-16.
Background
Sindhu, 31 and a two-time Olympic medallist, arrived after losing the French Open final to An Se Young, which lifted her to world No. 8.
How it works
BWF World Tour events are graded by level; a Super 500 sits below Super 750 and Super 1000 events and carries fewer ranking points.
What's next
In the semi-finals, Sindhu faces Kharb and Lakshya Sen meets France's Toma Junior Popov.
What it means for you
Watching a senior and a teenager from the same country face off is a good lesson in how sporting talent is passed on.
Key numbers
- 21-12, 21-10: Sindhu's quarter-final win
- 68: Minutes in Kharb's win over Hooda
- 8: Sindhu's world ranking
- 19: Anmol Kharb's age
Both sides
- Supporters: Kharb beating two seeds shows India's women's singles depth is growing behind Sindhu.
- Cautious observers: This is a Super 500 event; the real test is beating top players like An Se Young at bigger tournaments.
Key terms explained
- All-Indian semi-final
- A semi-final in which both players are from India, so one Indian is sure to reach the final.
- Super 500
- A mid-level tournament on the BWF World Tour, below the Super 750 and Super 1000 events.
The story so far
- 25 Oct 2026: Sindhu loses the French Open Super 750 final to world No. 1 An Se Young 21-16, 11-21, 12-21. Sindhu won the opening game against South Korea's An Se Young but lost the next two. She has still never beaten An in 11 meetings.
- 27 Oct 2026: Sindhu climbs three places to world No. 8 in the BWF rankings. After her French Open final, Sindhu rose three spots to No. 8 in the world rankings released on Tuesday.
- Today: Sindhu, Anmol Kharb set up all-Indian Hylo Open semi-final; Lakshya Sen also advances
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- The Badminton World Federation (BWF) runs the World Tour, whose events are graded Super 100, 300, 500, 750 and 1000.
- PV Sindhu is a two-time Olympic medallist: silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020.
- Saarbrücken, host of the Hylo Open, is in Germany.
- The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is the national governing body for badminton.
Likely exam question: What is the difference between a Super 500 and a Super 750 event on the BWF World Tour?