India is assured of a women's singles finalist at the Hylo Open Super 500 after PV Sindhu and Anmol Kharb won their quarter-finals to set up an all-Indian semi-final in Saarbrücken, Germany, on Friday, October 30. Lakshya Sen added to India's progress by coming from a game down to defeat Finland's Kalle Koljonen and enter the men's singles last four.
Sindhu moves through in 28 minutes
Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu continued her run with a straight-games victory over Germany's Amalie Schulz. The Indian won 21-12, 21-10 in 28 minutes, controlling the match across both games and giving Schulz little opportunity to build sustained pressure.
Sindhu won 42 of the 64 points played, underlining her command of the quarter-final. She took the opening game 21-12 and maintained the advantage in the second, closing out the match 21-10. The result followed her runner-up finish at the French Open and kept her campaign moving at the Super 500 event.
The quarter-final win put Sindhu into a last-four meeting with another Indian. Her next opponent would be decided by the match between Anmol Kharb and sixth seed Unnati Hooda, ensuring that the country had a strong presence in the women's singles semi-finals.
Anmol Kharb wins an all-Indian quarter-final
Anmol Kharb secured the other semi-final place with a three-game victory over compatriot Unnati Hooda. Kharb took the opening game 21-17, but Hooda responded by winning the second 21-18 to force a decider. Kharb then regained control to take the third game 21-16.
The contest lasted one hour and eight minutes. Its length and changing momentum made it a demanding quarter-final for both players, but Kharb held on in the deciding game to move into the last four. The win also means she will meet Sindhu for a place in the final.
The all-Indian semi-final has an immediate consequence for the tournament: India is guaranteed a women's singles finalist, regardless of which player progresses. It gives Kharb an opportunity to test herself against a two-time Olympic medallist, while Sindhu must negotiate a familiar opponent to reach the title match.
Lakshya Sen rallies past Koljonen
In the men's singles, Lakshya Sen also had to recover after losing the opening game. Finland's Kalle Koljonen took the first 21-14, but Sen responded with a 21-17 win in the second to level the contest. The Indian then completed the comeback by taking the deciding game 21-13.
The match lasted one hour and six minutes. Sen's ability to turn the contest around after the first game kept India's men's singles campaign alive and secured his place among the final four. The result was a three-game test rather than a straightforward passage, requiring him to win two consecutive games after falling behind.
Sen's semi-final opponent will be France's Toma Junior Popov. The match offers the Indian a chance to move one step closer to the title, but he will first need to build on the response that carried him past Koljonen.
India's position at the Hylo Open
The three quarter-final victories give India two players in the women's singles semi-finals and one in the men's singles last four. Sindhu's straight-games win and Kharb's three-game success produced the all-Indian match-up, while Sen's comeback added another result for the Indian contingent.
The women's draw now guarantees an Indian presence in the final, an important outcome at a BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament. The semi-final is also a meeting between players who reached the last four through different routes: Sindhu with a controlled straight-games performance and Kharb after a deciding-game contest against the sixth seed.
For Sen, the immediate task is different. He will face Popov with a place in the men's singles final at stake. His quarter-final showed resilience after dropping the first game, but the semi-final will present a fresh opponent and a new match situation.
The SportsLine angle
The Hylo Open results give Indian badminton followers a clear storyline across both singles draws. Sindhu and Kharb's meeting guarantees a finalist in the women's event and creates an opportunity for an Indian player to reach the championship match. Kharb's progress through a demanding quarter-final also adds to the tournament experience she can take from facing higher-seeded opposition and established compatriots.
Sen's progress keeps India's men's singles hopes alive. His recovery against Koljonen is a reminder that a match can change after a difficult opening game, but the next round will require the same focus against Popov. With the semi-finals ahead, India has representation in both singles events and a confirmed women's finalist at the Saarbrücken tournament.
This report reflects the quarter-final results on October 30, 2026, and the semi-final match-ups confirmed at that point. It does not include outcomes from the subsequent semi-finals or final.
Frequently asked questions
Who will PV Sindhu face in the Hylo Open semi-finals?
PV Sindhu will face compatriot Anmol Kharb in the women's singles semi-finals of the Hylo Open Super 500. Sindhu reached the last four by defeating Germany's Amalie Schulz 21-12, 21-10, while Kharb beat sixth seed Unnati Hooda in three games.
How did Anmol Kharb reach the Hylo Open semi-finals?
Anmol Kharb defeated fellow Indian and sixth seed Unnati Hooda 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 in the women's singles quarter-finals. The match lasted one hour and eight minutes, with Kharb taking the deciding game to secure her place in the last four.
How did Lakshya Sen qualify for the men's singles semi-finals?
Lakshya Sen came from one game down to defeat Finland's Kalle Koljonen 14-21, 21-17, 21-13. The quarter-final lasted one hour and six minutes. Sen recovered after losing the opening game and won the next two to book a place in the men's singles semi-finals.
Who will Lakshya Sen play in the Hylo Open semi-finals?
Lakshya Sen is scheduled to face France's Toma Junior Popov in the men's singles semi-finals. Sen earned his place in the last four with a three-game comeback victory over Finland's Kalle Koljonen in the quarter-finals at Saarbrücken, Germany.
Why is India guaranteed a finalist at the Hylo Open?
India is guaranteed a women's singles finalist because PV Sindhu and Anmol Kharb are drawn to meet each other in the semi-finals. Since one Indian player must win that match and advance to the title round, the country will have representation in the women's singles final.