Jakarta, 21 January (H.S.): Two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu and former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth powered into the second round of the Indonesia Masters 2026 badminton tournament Wednesday with commanding first-round victories, though other Indians faltered early.

Fifth seed Sindhu outlasted Japan's Manami Suizu 22-20, 21-18 in a tense 53-minute women's singles clash, displaying composure at critical junctures to clinch straight games after extended rallies tested both shuttlers' endurance.

World No. 33 Srikanth mounted a thrilling comeback to edge Japan's world No. 22 Koki Watanabe 21-15, 21-23, 24-22 in a 72-minute men's singles marathon, setting up a Round 2 showdown with fourth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, who dispatched Ireland's Nhat Nguyen 21-14, 21-15.

India's campaign soured elsewhere: Kiran George fell 17-21, 14-21 to Indonesia's Moh Zaki Ubaidillah in men's singles; Akarshi Kashyap lost a decider 21-8, 20-22, 17-21 to Denmark's Julie Finne-Ipsen (corrected from Jakobsen per standard naming). Mixed doubles pairs exited tamely—Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Gadde 9-21, 20-22 to France's fourth seeds Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue; Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto 23-21, 20-22, 6-21 to France's Julien Maio/Lea Palermo—leaving India's hopes pinned on Sindhu and Srikanth.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar