PV Sindhu Creates Brilliant Record At Australian Open, Registers Fastest Smash

Last Updated:June 22, 2026, 14:33 IST

PV Sindhu records fastest women's singles smash at Australian Open, reaches semifinals and leads India's badminton team for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, still chasing an elusive BWF Tour title, had something to cheer about after recording the fastest smash among women’s singles players at last week’s Australian Open, clocked at a brilliant 377.8 km/h.

Sindhu finished as a semifinalist at the tournament, going down to arch-rival Akane Yamaguchi in straight games. She had come into the match on the back of three comprehensive wins, but on the day, the Japanese shuttler proved more powerful.

This was the 14th time that Sindhu lost to Yamaguchi, although she still leads their head-to-head battle 15-14. The former’s last win against Yamaguchi came in the Malaysia Open earlier this year, when the Japanese retired after losing the first game 11-21.

Sindhu also clocked a smash of 346.5 kph, which placed her third among the top 10 fastest smashes among women’s singles players in the tournament. Tanvi Sharma, who went down to Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals, clocked a smash of 337.2 kph and was fifth on the list.

Tanya Hemanth, who lost in the second round to Pornpowee Chochuwong, clocked a smash of 316.3 kph, and was 10th on the list.

Hariharan Amsakarunan, who finished as a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open with partner MR Arjun, clocked a smash of 455.2 kph.

No Indian features on the fastest smash list in the men’s singles, women’s doubles or mixed doubles formats.

Meanwhile, Sindhu, along with reigning men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, lead India’s 20-member badminton team for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4.

India’s women’s team will be led by the experienced Sindhu and will be complemented by emerging young shuttlers like Tanvi and Unnati Hooda.

Alongside Satwik and Chirag, the emerging men’s doubles pair Hariharan and Arjun will be part of India’s contingent travelling to Japan as well, with the latter having been a member of India’s silver-winning men’s team at the 2023 Asian Games.

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