Indonesia Masters 2026: Chen Yufei and PV Sindhu show their class to reach next round

World number four Chen Yufei began her quest for a first title of the 2026 season with a flawless performance in Jakarta. Facing Polina Buhrova of Ukraine, the Chinese superstar demonstrated a massive gulf in class, wrapping up the match in just over 30 minutes. 

Chen dominated from the opening serve, utilizing intelligent shot placement and lethal smashes that left Buhrova struggling to find a rhythm.

With clinical precision, Chen committed very few unforced errors and maintained momentum through several long scoring streaks that effectively broke her opponent's spirit. The final scoreline of 21-8, 21-6 reflected a masterclass in tactical badminton. 

Following this dominant start, Chen Yufei is set to face Julie Dawall Jakobsen of Denmark in the second round, who advanced after defeating India's Akarshi Kashyap.

On the other side of the bracket, Indian icon P.V. Sindhu also enjoyed a successful day, though her path was considerably more challenging than Chen’s. The former world number one faced Japan’s Manami Suizu in a high-intensity encounter that lasted 53 minutes. From the outset, Suizu proved to be a resilient defender, forcing Sindhu into long rallies.

In the first set, the 2 players traded points in a neck-and-neck battle. Sindhu’s experience eventually shone through during the closing stages; at 20-20, she remained calm to produce two decisive winners, taking the set 22-20. The second set followed a similar pattern of tactical sparring. Sindhu utilized her height advantage to execute steep attacks, eventually carving out a lead to finish the match 21-18.

This victory carries significant emotional weight for the 30-year-old veteran. Sindhu arrived in Jakarta under immense pressure after a disappointing first-round exit at her home tournament, the India Open, just a week prior. That loss, which came at the hands of Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh, had raised questions about her current form. By advancing today, Sindhu has kept her hopes alive for a deep run at the Istora Senayan.

Beyond the headlines of the top seeds, the tournament saw several other notable results. Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth survived a 72-minute marathon against Koki Watanabe, winning 24-22 in the final set. 

However, it was a dark day for the rest of the Indian contingent. Kiran George was eliminated by local favorite Moh Zaki Ubaidillah, while Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen also saw his journey end following a straight-set defeat to fourth seed Chou Tien Chen.