Hylo Open 2026: P.V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen lead India’s singles sweep in Saarbrücken
India celebrated a memorable badminton double at the Hylo Open 2026, as P.V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen claimed the women’s and men’s singles titles at the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrücken, Germany. Sindhu delivered a composed victory over Denmark’s Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt, while Lakshya overcame Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie to cap a demanding week with the men’s crown.
The results offered more than two trophies for the Indian contingent. Sindhu’s measured authority and Lakshya’s resilience under pressure highlighted the different strengths that continue to make them central figures in Indian badminton. The tournament also brought encouraging performances from younger players, even as several experienced names exited earlier than hoped.
P.V. Sindhu controls the women’s singles final
Sindhu arrived in Germany as the No. 2 seed, looking to respond after finishing runner-up at the French Open the previous week. In Paris, she had let an early advantage slip against An Se-young. In Saarbrücken, she gave Kjaersfeldt little opportunity to build momentum, winning the final 21-12, 21-14 in just 38 minutes.
Her route to the title was equally convincing. Sindhu opened with a 21-10, 21-10 win over Prakriti Bharath of the United Arab Emirates, then defeated France’s Rosy Oktavia Pancasari 21-9, 21-6. She moved past Germany’s Amalie Schulz 21-12, 21-10 in the quarterfinals before facing compatriot Anmol Kharb in the last four. Sindhu won that all-Indian semifinal 21-13, 21-16.
Rather than relying only on her trademark steep smash, Sindhu built points by pushing opponents deep and making them cover the full court. That patient approach helped her control rallies and limit Kjaersfeldt’s chances to attack. At 31, the two-time Olympic medallist and 2019 world champion remains a formidable presence—and a demanding standard for India’s emerging women’s singles players.
Lakshya Sen turns a difficult week into a title run
Lakshya’s men’s singles campaign was less straightforward, but his ability to adjust proved decisive. He had to work through tough stretches against Joakim Oldorff, Kiran George and Kalle Koljonen, who took the opening game in their quarterfinal. Lakshya responded each time by tightening his defence, raising the pace and staying patient until the rallies began to favour him.
In the semifinal, he faced Toma Junior Popov, who had beaten him in both of their previous meetings, including a one-sided result at the China Masters the year before. Popov’s aggressive play threatened to make the match uncomfortable, particularly late in the first game. Lakshya held firm to take it 21-17, then secured the second 21-13 to earn his place in the final.
Against Christie, the early exchanges were quick and flat, but Lakshya gradually gained control through sharp court coverage and confident touches at the net. He led 11-9 at the interval in the first game and stayed composed when Christie tried to turn the contest with cross-court smashes. Lakshya closed the opener 21-17, then took charge of the second, absorbing the Indonesian’s early aggression before countering cleanly. From an 11-7 interval lead, he surged to a 21-10, 21-17 victory.
The win was especially significant after a week in which questions had been raised about Lakshya’s fitness and form. Saarbrücken holds a special place in his career: he won a major senior title there as a teenager in 2019. Returning seven years later as a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, he added another tournament triumph to his record.
Anmol Kharb makes a breakthrough run
Anmol was one of the tournament’s standout Indian performers, reaching the women’s singles semifinals after a demanding series of matches. She first defeated Sri Lanka’s Ranithma Liyanage, then faced Denmark’s No. 3 seed Line Christophersen. After losing the opening game, Anmol fought back and took the deciding game 25-23 in a tense finish.
She carried that confidence into the quarterfinal against Unnati Hooda, winning another three-game contest. Her run ended against Sindhu, but the semifinal appearance underlined the composure Anmol has shown in high-pressure situations—including during India’s gold-medal campaign at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships.
Mixed results for India’s other women’s singles players
Unnati, the No. 6 seed, showed her speed and quick hands in a comeback win over Czech player Tereza Švábíková, recovering after dropping the first game to take the next two. She could not maintain that momentum against Anmol in the quarterfinals.
Malvika Bansod began with an all-Indian match against Devika Sihag. After losing the first game, Malvika used her placement and variation to win the next two. Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang ended her campaign in the following round, keeping Malvika from finding the openings her patient style required.
Isharani Baruah, known for her willingness to extend rallies, beat Germany’s Miranda Wilson in straight games before falling to eighth seed Kjaersfeldt. Ashmita also showed promise early against Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova, taking the first game, but the match turned sharply in the decider. Aakarshi Kashyap was eliminated by Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova in straight games.
Early exits in men’s singles
Prannoy’s first-round meeting with France’s sixth seed Popov was among the closest matches of the opening stage. The 2023 world championship bronze medallist pushed the first game to a 21-23 finish, but Popov took control of the pace in the second and closed out the match. For a player known for explosive jump smashes and deceptive net play, it was a frustratingly early end.
Kiran George began with a straight-games win over Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei before losing to Lakshya in their all-Indian encounter. S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian struggled to create openings against Finland’s Kalle Koljonen, while Tharun Mannepalli was also beaten in straight games, by Taiwan’s Chi Yu Jen.
What India’s Hylo Open campaign showed
India’s singles sweep made the Hylo Open 2026 a landmark week, but the wider story was the contrast between experience and emerging depth. Sindhu and Lakshya demonstrated how tactical discipline and calm decision-making can carry players through pressure moments. Anmol’s semifinal run, meanwhile, offered a promising glimpse of the next generation.
For Indian badminton, the Saarbrücken results provide both immediate success and useful momentum. The champions leave with titles, while the younger contingent gains valuable experience against international opposition—an important combination as the season continues.
