Arctic Open: PV Sindhu storms to quarters to face good friend Intanon after 4 years

PV Sindhu produced a clinical display to beat Japan’s Riko Gunji 21-15, 21-15 to reach the quarterfinals of the Arctic Open Super 500 on Thursday, October 8.

The 31-year-old Indian needed just 49 minutes to see off 24-year-old Gunji, who is ranked 21st in the world. Sindhu was at her sharpest throughout, unleashing jump smashes at will and repeatedly finding lines with her cross-court moves.

Sindhu, who handled the opening game well, was trailing 11-13 in the second. But the former world champion responded strongly, winning 10 of the next 13 points to seal the straight-sets victory.

Now they face a much tougher test Japan Open champion.

Sindhu will face her good friend and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon in the quarterfinals. The Thai, 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 Riko Gunji. #BWFWorldTour #ArcticOpen2026 BWF (@bwfmedia) October 8, 2026

Sindhu and Intanon have met 13 times on the BWF Tour, with the Thai shuttler winning nine of those encounters. However, their last meeting took place four years ago, in 2022.

The two were part of a dominant generation of women’s singles and remained close friends as their careers progressed. They often exchanged words of encouragement and pushed each other to keep going as a younger group of women’s singles players continue to make their mark at the highest level.

So their quarter-final meeting promises more than just another fight between two well-known rivals. With both players eyeing a deep run in Finland, it could turn out to be one of the defining matches of the tournament.

However, there was disappointment elsewhere in the draw for India.

Tharun Mannepalli suffered a 21-14, 21-19 defeat to second seed Christo Popov of France, while Tanvi lost to Intanon 21-18, 21-7 in a one-sided match.

Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth already bowed out in the opening round, losing 21-15, 15-21, 13-21 to Canadian Brian Yang.

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