SportsPosted at: Sep 20 2026 1:14PM


India thrash Kazakhstan 3-0, enter next stage of Asian Games badminton

Aichi-Nagoya, Sept 20 (UNI) PV Sindhu provided the opening punch before India's young shuttlers delivered the knockout blow as India swept Kazakhstan 3-0 without dropping a single game in the women's badminton team event at the Asian Games here on Sunday.
There was little drama in a tie India dominated from the first shuttle. Sindhu, Unnati Hooda and Tanvi Sharma conceded just 48 points between them across three matches, underlining the gulf between the two sides.
Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, began India's campaign with a clinical 21-7, 21-9 victory over Kamila Smagulova.
The Kazakh had few answers to Sindhu's pace, reach and attacking strokes as the Indian took control of the rallies almost immediately. Sindhu never allowed Smagulova to settle and wrapped up the opening contest with ease.
Unnati then showed that India's next generation was equally ready for the big stage, defeating Alissa Kuleshova 21-7, 21-10 to take India to the brink of victory.
Tanvi Sharma needed just two games to complete the rout, overpowering Diana Namenova 21-5, 21-10 and sending India through without conceding a game.
The manner of the victory was as significant as the result. India surrendered only 48 points in three matches and never allowed Kazakhstan to put together a serious challenge.
For Sindhu, the emphatic opening win was a particularly encouraging start to her fourth Asian Games appearance. She won bronze at the 2014 Games and silver in 2018 and is now chasing the Asian Games gold that has eluded her.
But Sunday's victory was not merely about Sindhu. Hooda and Sharma ensured that India's campaign quickly moved beyond its established star, offering an early glimpse of the depth available to the team.
India's squad also features Devika Sihag, Isharani Baruah, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi and Tanisha Crasto.
With the Kazakhstan challenge swept aside in three matches, India now move into the next stage carrying both the confidence of a comprehensive victory and the momentum generated by a near-flawless opening day.
UNI BDN
Tags: #India thrash Kazakhstan 3-0# enter next stage of Asian Games badminton
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