Indonesia Masters 2026: Indian challenge ends as PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen crash out in quarterfinals
(Courtesy : Badminton Photo / BAI)
Lakshya Sen was eliminated by Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul.
The Indian challenge at the Indonesia Masters 2026 came to an end on January 23 as star shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen bowed out in their respective quarter-final matches at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
PV Sindhu faced a tough challenge against top seed and world No. 4 Chen Yufei of China in the women’s singles quarter-final. The Chinese ace proved too strong on the day, securing a straight-game win, 21-13, 21-17.
Chen dominated from the start, building a strong lead in the opening game. Sindhu however showed some resistance in the second game and even led 8-5 early on.
However, a dramatic moment occurred when Sindhu received both a yellow and a red card following a disagreement with the chair umpire while trailing 12-17.
The incident appeared to disrupt her rhythm, and Chen took advantage of that to close out the match and advance to the semi-finals.
Despite the loss, the tournament had its bright moment for Sindhu. Earlier, she became the first Indian woman and only the sixth player worldwide to reach 500 career individual wins after defeating Denmark’s Line Kjærsfeldt in the Round of 16.
Still, the quarter-final exit marked another setback for the two-time Olympic medallist, who had also fallen early at the India Open earlier this month.
Sindhu had shown signs of revival at the start of the season, reaching the semi-finals in Malaysia, her first in over a year. Her last title came at the Syed Modi International in 2024. But for now, heartbreak continues.
Also Read: PV Sindhu enters elite club with landmark win at BWF Indonesia Masters 2026
On the other hand, in the men’s singles, Lakshya Sen endured a disappointing exit after going down to Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in a tightly fought quarter-final, 21-18, 22-20.
The match was evenly balanced throughout, both players traded sharp rallies and gave attacking strokes. However, Teeraratsakul edged ahead when it mattered most. Sen fought hard in both games but was unable to convert points in the closing stages.
Now this defeat added to a series of early exits for the Indian shuttler in recent tournaments. He had also suffered quarter-final and Round of 16 losses at the India Open and Malaysia Open respectively.
With Sindhu and Sen bowing out, India’s challenge at the Indonesia Masters 2026 officially came to an end. Earlier, Kidambi Srikanth and Anmol Kharab had exited in the Round of 16.
Who defeated PV Sindhu in the quarter-finals?
PV Sindhu was defeated by China’s Chen Yufei, who won the match 21-13, 21-17.
What happened during Sindhu’s match with Chen Yufei?
Sindhu showed resistance in the second game but lost momentum after receiving a yellow and red card following a disagreement with the umpire.
Who eliminated Lakshya Sen from the tournament?
Sen was eliminated by Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul with a 21-18, 22-20 win.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.