Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Japan Open 2026 with a straight-game win, while Dhruv Kapila and Radhika Sharma suffered an opening-round exit. Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun also progressed.Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly advanced to the pre-quarters of Japan Open.

Photo Credits: BAIKumamoto,Nov 10, 2026 12:35 ISTIndia's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand began their campaign at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 badminton tournament on a winning note, defeating home favourites Hinata Suzuki and Nao Yamakita in straight games to enter the pre-quarterfinals on Tuesday.The Indian women's doubles combination, which claimed a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi earlier this year, secured a 21-17, 21-14 victory in 42 minutes in their round-of-32 encounter. Treesa and Gayatri maintained their composure against the Japanese pair, wrapping up the contest in two games to book their place in the next round.They will now face another Japanese combination, Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, for a place in the quarter-finals.It was a disappointing outing for Dhruv Kapila and Radhika Sharma, however, as the Indian mixed doubles pair bowed out in the opening round of qualifying.

They were beaten 16-21, 15-21 by the second-seeded American combination of Chen Zhi Yi and Francesca Corbett. India also enjoyed some success in men's doubles, with Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun progressing after their Malaysian opponents, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, retired hurt just six minutes into their round-of-32 contest.The Indian pair had established an 11-6 lead in the opening game when the Malaysians were forced to withdraw, handing Hariharan and Arjun a passage into the next round.

They will now await the outcome of the clash between Japan's Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi and Hong Kong China's Kuei Chun Hung and Chun Wai Lui to learn their next opponents. Meanwhile, India's men's singles campaign will see two familiar names take centre stage, with Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth scheduled to begin their respective campaigns.Eighth seed Lakshya will take on Chinese Taipei's Yu Jen Chi in his opening-round encounter, while Srikanth has been drawn against Denmark's Rasmus Gemke.

The schedule for both matches is yet to be announced.With Treesa and Gayatri already through and Hariharan and Arjun handed a walkover-like passage following their opponents' retirement, India will look to build on the early momentum as the tournament progresses.- Ends