It was a hopeful competition that ended in tragedy as one player after another bowed out early at the Thailand Open 2025. Nobody was able to make it, not even the most seasoned partners or emerging stars.
In Bangkok, what went wrong? Examining India’s campaign in further detail will help us understand why this tournament was yet another lost chance.
India’s Thailand Open 2025 Journey Ends Early
All of India’s surviving shuttlers crashed out early, finishing off a poor performance at the Thailand Open 2025. Although expectations were high going into the competition, Indian players found it difficult to compete against more seasoned and powerful opponents.
The Super 500 event in Bangkok proved too tough, and not a single Indian representative could make it to the quarterfinals.
The early exits marked another setback for Indian badminton on the global stage.
Players like Unnati Hooda, Malvika Bansod, Aakarshi Kashyap, and the women’s doubles duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand all bowed out in straight games.
Despite glimpses of potential, Thailand Open 2025 turned out to be a tournament to forget.
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Indian Women Struggle in Singles Matches
In the women’s singles category at the Thailand Open 2025, all three Indian players faced tough matchups. Seventeen-year-old Unnati Hooda, who has impressed in past events like the Odisha Masters and Abu Dhabi Masters, was up against world No. 2 Pornpawee Chochuwong.
The Thai top seed proved too strong, defeating Unnati 21-14, 21-11 in under 40 minutes.
Malvika Bansod ranked 23rd in the world and a recent finalist at the Hylo Open, faced Thailand’s former world champion, Ratchanok Intanon. Malvika showed some resistance but eventually went down 12-21, 16-21.
Aakarshi Kashyap didn’t fare any better. She faced left-hander Supanida Katethong, and was beaten in straight sets, 9-21, 14-21.
The defeats of all three players in the second round meant that India’s women’s singles challenge at the Thailand Open 2025 ended without a fightback.
Doubles and Men’s Singles Disappointments
In women’s doubles, the world No. 10 pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand made a return after an injury break. Many expected them to do well at the Thailand Open 2025, but they fell short against Japan’s Rui Hirokami and Sayaka Hobara.
Despite putting up a strong fight in the first game, they lost 20-22 and 14-21 and exited in the second round.
In the men’s singles category, Tharun Mannepalli was the only Indian to reach round two. Facing Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, the tournament’s second seed, Tharun gave it his best but was outclassed 14-21, 16-21.
Lakshya Sen, India’s top singles player, had already exited in the first round, losing to Nhat Nguyen, who is ranked no. 34 in the world in an hour and 30 mins, leaving fans disappointed once again.
What’s Next for Indian Badminton?
The Thailand Open 2025 adds to a worrying trend for India in the current BWF World Tour season.
Top stars like PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, and Lakshya Sen have faced a mix of injuries, inconsistent form, and early exits. So far, the country hasn’t seen a single finalist in a major event this year.
As Indian shuttlers regroup and prepare for upcoming tournaments, the lessons from the Thailand Open 2025 will be crucial. The road to recovery is long, but with the right focus and support, a turnaround could still be on the cards.
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