PV Sindhu storms into quarters, to face good friend Intanon after 4 years

PV Sindhu beat Riko Gunji in straight games to enter the Arctic Open quarter-finals. Her next match against close friend Ratchanok Intanon revives a familiar rivalry after four years.PV Sindhu will face Ratchanok Intanon in the quarterfinals of Arctic Open (PTI Photo)New Delhi,Oct 8, 2026 19:56 ISTPV Sindhu produced a clinical display to beat Japan's Riko Gunji 21-15, 21-15 and reach the quarter-finals of the Arctic Open Super 500 on Thursday, October 8.The 31-year-old Indian needed just 49 minutes to see off the 24-year-old Gunji, ranked 21st in the world. Sindhu was at her sharpest throughout, unleashing jump smashes at will and repeatedly finding the lines with her cross-court drops.Having taken the opening game comfortably, Sindhu found herself trailing 11-13 in the second. But the former world champion responded emphatically, winning 10 of the next 13 points to close out a straight-games victory.A much tougher test now awaits the Japan Open champion. Sindhu will face her good friend and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon in the quarter-finals. The Thai, the world No. 5 and top seed in Finland, defeated India's Tanvi Sharma 21-18, 21-7 to book her place in the last eight.No.6 seed Pusarla V. Sindhu faces off against Riko Gunji . #BWFWorldTour #ArcticOpen2026 https://t.co/LDlqCVCO3S— BWF (@bwfmedia) October 8, 2026Sindhu and Intanon have met 13 times on the BWF Tour, with the Thai shuttler winning nine of those encounters. However, their last meeting came four years ago, in 2022. The two were part of a dominant generation of women's singles players and have remained close friends as their careers have progressed. They have often exchanged words of encouragement, pushing each other to keep going as a younger crop of women's singles players continues to make its mark at the highest level.Their quarter-final meeting, therefore, promises to be more than just another contest between two familiar opponents. With both players eyeing a deep run in Finland, it could prove to be one of the defining matches of the tournament.For India, however, there was disappointment elsewhere in the draw.Tharun Mannepalli suffered a 21-14, 21-19 defeat to second seed Christo Popov of France, while Tanvi went down 21-18, 21-7 to Intanon in a one-sided contest.Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth had already bowed out in the opening round, losing 21-15, 15-21, 13-21 to Canada's Brian Yang.- Ends