PV Sindhu created history at the Australian Open by registering the fastest smash among women’s singles players, clocking an incredible 377.8 km/h.
The double Olympic medallist, still chasing a BWF Tour title, finished as a semifinalist after losing to arch-rival Akane Yamaguchi in straight games.
Sindhu entered the semifinal with three commanding wins, but Yamaguchi proved stronger on the day. This marked Sindhu’s 14th loss to the Japanese star, though she continues to lead their head-to-head rivalry 15-14. Earlier this year, Sindhu defeated Yamaguchi at the Malaysia Open when the latter retired after losing the first game.
Sindhu also recorded a smash of 346.5 km/h, ranking third among the top 10 fastest smashes in the tournament. Tanvi Sharma, who lost to Yamaguchi in the quarterfinals, registered 337.2 km/h and placed fifth. Tanya Hemanth, who exited in the second round, clocked 316.3 km/h to finish tenth. In men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan smashed at 455.2 km/h, one of the fastest in the event.
No Indian featured in the fastest smash lists for men’s singles, women’s doubles, or mixed doubles.
Meanwhile, Sindhu will lead India’s women’s team at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The squad includes emerging talents Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda. Men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with Hariharan and MR Arjun, will represent India in Japan.
