PV Sindhu and Anmol Kharb have set up an all-Indian women’s singles semifinal at the Hylo Open Super 500 badminton tournament in Saarbrücken, Germany, guaranteeing an Indian finalist. Lakshya Sen also reached the men’s singles semifinals on Friday, October 30, 2026, completing a strong day for India at the BWF World Tour event.
Sindhu cruises through in straight games
Double Olympic medallist Sindhu continued her impressive run after finishing runner-up at the French Open, beating Amalie Schulz 21-12, 21-10 in just 28 minutes in the quarterfinals. The straight-games win booked her place in the last four and kept her title challenge on track.
Anmol Kharb wins the all-Indian quarterfinal
Sindhu will next face compatriot Anmol Kharb, who knocked out countrywoman and sixth seed Unnati Hooda in a hard-fought three-game contest. Anmol prevailed 21-17, 18-21, 21-16 in a match lasting one hour and eight minutes. Because both semifinalists are Indian, the women’s singles final is guaranteed to feature an Indian player, with both Sindhu and Anmol now one win away from the title round.
Lakshya Sen fights back into the men’s semifinals
In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen also entered the semifinals after recovering from a game down to beat Finland’s Kalle Koljonen in the quarterfinals. The former World Championships bronze medallist prevailed 14-21, 21-17, 21-13 in a contest lasting one hour and six minutes. Sen will face Toma Junior Popov of France in the semifinal.
Why this semifinal matters
The all-Indian semifinal is a rare guarantee at this level: whatever happens between Sindhu and Anmol, India will have a women’s singles finalist at a Super 500 event. For Sindhu, it continues a run of form following her French Open final appearance. For teenager Anmol Kharb, it follows a week in which she had already beaten a world No. 12 opponent after saving match points, and it puts her one win from a major final against one of Indian badminton’s most decorated players.
What happens next
The semifinal round follows the quarterfinals, with Sindhu against Anmol Kharb for a place in the women’s final and Sen against Popov in the men’s draw. The results will decide whether India has one finalist or two at the Hylo Open.
FAQ
Who plays in the all-Indian Hylo Open semifinal? PV Sindhu against Anmol Kharb in women’s singles.
Who does Lakshya Sen face in the semifinal? Toma Junior Popov of France.
Does the semifinal guarantee an Indian finalist? Yes, in women’s singles, because both semifinalists are Indian.
More sports coverage: Emadan News Sports
Sources
- Tribune India (PTI), October 30, 2026: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sports/hylo-open-sindhu-anmol-set-up-all-indian-semifinal-clash-lakshya-also-makes-it-to-last-four/
- Rediff Sports (PTI), October 30, 2026: https://www.rediff.com/sports/report/sindhu-cruises-into-hylo-open-semifinals-to-face-anmol/20261030.htm
- The New Indian Express, October 30, 2026: https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/sports-news/2026/Oct/30/sindhu-vs-anmol-kharb-in-hylo-open-semis
- Sportstar, October 30, 2026: https://sportstar.thehindu.com/badminton/sindhu-beats-schulz-hylo-open-2026-quarterfinals-score-india-results/article71645971.ece
