Kuala Lumpur, 09 January (H.S.): India's star shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the semifinals of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 badminton tournament Friday after her quarterfinal opponent, Japan's world No. 3 and reigning champion Akane Yamaguchi, retired mid-match due to a knee injury.

Making a strong comeback from long-term injury layoff, the former world champion dominated the opening game 21-11 with clinical precision, spotting Yamaguchi strapped in a knee brace throughout.

Yamaguchi opted out post the first game, citing the aggravation, gifting world No. 18 Sindhu a hard-fought progression and improving her head-to-head record against the Japanese to 15-12.

Olympic Double Medalist Eyes Glory After Eight-Year Semis Drought

This marks Sindhu's first Malaysia Open semifinal appearance in eight years—a significant milestone underscoring her resurgence—where the two-time Olympic medalist next faces either Indonesia's sixth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani or China's second seed Wang Zhi Yi.

Later Friday, India's top men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty take on Indonesia's sixth seeds Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, keeping Indian hopes alive in the prestigious Super 1000 event.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar