HS Prannoy Stuns Jonatan Christie As Lakshya Sen And Dhruv-Tanisha Advance At Singapore Open 2026
Indian badminton enjoyed a hugely positive day at the Singapore Open 2026 as HS Prannoy produced a sensational upset over World No. 5 Jonatan Christie, while Lakshya Sen and mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto also progressed to the next round at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.
The biggest headline undoubtedly belonged to former World No. 6 HS Prannoy, who staged a stunning comeback to defeat Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 10-21, 21-12, 21-18 in a gripping 61-minute men’s singles battle. Coming into the contest, Prannoy was considered the underdog against the fifth seed, especially given Christie’s dominant 7-3 head-to-head advantage over the Indian. The opening game appeared to reinforce those expectations.
Christie dominated the first game with aggressive attacking play, sharp movement and relentless pressure from the backcourt. Prannoy struggled to settle into the rallies and repeatedly found himself pushed deep into defensive positions as the Indonesian raced through the opener 21-10.
At that stage, the match looked firmly under Christie’s control. But Prannoy responded brilliantly.
The Indian completely changed the momentum from the start of the second game. From 2-all, Prannoy began dictating rallies far more effectively, using his variations and attacking angles to repeatedly force errors from Christie. His body language also transformed.
The Indian looked more energetic, sharper around the net and increasingly confident in constructing longer rallies. Christie, meanwhile, struggled to maintain the same attacking intensity that had helped him dominate the opening game. Prannoy comfortably closed out the second game 21-12 to force a decider.
The third game developed into a tense tactical battle between two experienced international players. Christie held a narrow advantage through most of the deciding game and appeared to be edging closer towards victory when he moved ahead 18-16. But Prannoy produced one final surge exactly when it mattered most.
Trailing 16-18, the Indian won five consecutive points to complete one of the biggest victories of his season.
The comeback victory once again highlighted Prannoy’s ability to raise his level against elite opposition. Despite injuries and inconsistency over the last few years, the Indian veteran continues to remain one of the country’s most dangerous players on the international circuit when fully fit. Prannoy will now face Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the Round of 16.
Loh himself advanced after defeating India’s Kidambi Srikanth in another hard-fought three-game battle. The former world champion edged past Srikanth 22-20, 19-21, 21-17 in front of the home crowd. While Prannoy grabbed the headlines, Lakshya Sen also quietly delivered an important victory for India.
The Commonwealth Games champion defeated China’s Lu Guang Zu 21-17, 21-15 in straight games to move into the pre-quarterfinals.
Lakshya looked significantly more composed compared to his recent tournaments, where inconsistency had occasionally affected his performances. Against Lu Guang Zu, the Indian controlled the rallies well, especially during the closing phases of both games. His movement appeared sharper, while his attacking discipline looked much improved compared to some of his earlier outings this season. The victory should provide a welcome confidence boost for Lakshya, who has been searching for consistency after several early exits in recent tournaments.
However, a major challenge now awaits him.
Lakshya is set to face Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the Round of 16 the same player who defeated him in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open last month.
Kunlavut remains one of the toughest opponents on the circuit because of his extraordinary rally control and defensive endurance. The upcoming clash will therefore serve as an important test of where Lakshya currently stands physically and mentally. India also had positive news in mixed doubles as Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto advanced after defeating Malaysia’s Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien 21-14, 20-22, 21-13.
The Indian pair started strongly and controlled the opening game comfortably through aggressive net play and disciplined attacking combinations. The Malaysians responded in the second game and narrowly edged a tense finish 22-20 to force the match into a decider.
But Dhruv and Tanisha regained control impressively in the third game.
After moving ahead 7-6, the Indians completely dominated the closing stages, repeatedly winning the faster exchanges and tightening their defensive structure. They eventually closed out the decider 21-13 to seal their place in the next round. The pair continues showing encouraging progress and is steadily emerging as one of India’s more reliable mixed doubles combinations on the BWF Tour.
Elsewhere, Malvika Bansod’s campaign came to an end despite a fighting effort against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Hsiang Ti. After winning the opening game 21-11, the Indian eventually lost 19-21, 12-21.
India also suffered disappointment in women’s doubles, where Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda were knocked out of the tournament. Still, the overall day belonged firmly to Indian badminton.
With Prannoy producing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, Lakshya rediscovering rhythm and Dhruv-Tanisha continuing their steady rise, India will now head into the later rounds of the Singapore Open carrying genuine momentum.
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