Denmark Open 2023: PV Sindhu secures quarterfinals spot, Aakarshi Kashyap exits

Sindhu is the only Indian left in the tournament.

India's top ranked women's singles shuttler PV Sindhu secured an upset victory over Indonesia's WR-7 Mariska Tunjung in three games (18-21, 21-15, 21-13) in the pre-quarterfinals of Denmark Open 2023. Later in the day, Aakarshi Kashyap lost to Thailand's Supanida Katethong. The second highest-ranked Indian women's singles star, defeated WR-26 Yvonne Li in the opening encounter.

Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, did not have a good start to the encounter losing the opening game 18-21. Both shuttlers played calculative shots but Tunjung got through in the latter half of the game. PV Sindhu did not waste any time and straight away started to attack in the second game. She held a seven-point lead at the mid-game interval and had a smooth sailing before the decider.

Mariska Tunjung cameback strongly to hold Sindhu and did not allow the momentum to drift towards the Indian. The Indonesian had a three-point advantage at 13-10 and held a slight upper edge. However, PV Sindhu showed her class to seal the match with 11 straight points leaving Tunjung awestruck.

The former world championships medalist has progressed well post the Asian Games 2023; reaching the semifinals of Arctic Open and the quarterfinals of ongoing Denmark Open 2023.

Meanwhile, Sindhu also avenged her defeat to Mariska Tunjung who defeated the Indian in her only BWF final this year at the BWF Spain Masters.

The other Indian in the fray, Aakarshi Kashyap, after putting up a spirited performance in the opening round looked completely of colour today. She showed good fight in the opening game and was leading by five points at 13-8, but lost plot in the latter stages to lose 18-21. Supanida Katethong never looked back from there on and progressed to the quarterfinals comfortably.

India's performance on day 3 of Denmark Open 2023

Women's Singles (Round of 16)

PV Sindhu beat Mariska Tunjung (18-21, 21-15, 21-13)

Aakarshi Kashyap lost to Supanida Katethong (18-21, 8-21)