In the India Open 2025, fans were shocked by the early exits of stars Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy, which disappointed many Indian badminton supporters.
On a brighter note, Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto kept the spirit alive with a solid win in women’s doubles, demonstrating their strength in tough times.
Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy Exit Early at India Open 2025
Indian shuttlers Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy made disappointing first-round exits on the opening day of the India Open 2025 badminton in New Delhi. While both the Indians lost their first-round matches to players from Chinese Taipei, it turned out to be a disappointing start for India in the prestigious BWF Super 750 event.
- Lakshya Sen: Lakshya Sen, ranked 12th in the world and a semi-finalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, lost to world No. 15 Lin Chun-yi in straight sets, 21-15, 21-10. The match, lasting only 37 minutes, highlighted Sen’s struggles with pace and movement.
- HS Prannoy: World No. 26 HS Prannoy started aggressively, clinching the first game 21-16 against Su Li Yang. But world number 33 surged ahead and took the match into two straight games 21-18, 21-12 and won it. This result marked the second straight defeat for Prannoy at the hands of Su Li Yang as he lost in the All-England Open as well.
SUGGESTED READ: Huang Ya Qiong Retires: End of an Era in Mixed Doubles
Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto Shine in Women’s Doubles
Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, the seventh-seeded Indian women’s doubles pair, cruised into the round of 16 at the India Open 2025. They defeated compatriots Kavya Gupta and Radhika Sharma 21-11, 21-12 in just 30 minutes.
Ponnappa and Crasto showed excellent coordination and control as they maintained a comprehensive lead throughout the process.
The combination next faces Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto- one of the strongest teams on the world stage.
Priyanshu Rajawat and Aakarshi Kashyap Knocked Out
Indian shuttlers Priyanshu Rajawat and Aakarshi Kashyap were eliminated from the India Open 2025 after first-round losses.
- Priyanshu Rajawat: Fought hard but lost to Japan’s sixth seed Kodai Naraoka in a three-game battle, 21-16, 20-22, 21-13. Rajawat saved a match point in the second game but couldn’t sustain the momentum.
- Aakarshi Kashyap: Lost to Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong in straight sets, 21-17, 21-13.
Both players showcased resilience but fell short against higher-seeded opponents.
Anupama Upadhyaya Advances in Women’s Singles
Indian shuttler Anupama Upadhyaya reached the second round of the India Open 2025 in some style as she prevailed over fellow woman Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj in straight sets, 21-17, 21-18.
Upadhyaya remained cool and consistent in outwitting her opponent, which is one of India’s hopes in the tournament.
This victory is significant amidst a series of early exits for other Indian players in the singles categories. Upadhyaya’s progression offers hope for Indian fans as she now prepares to face tougher international competition in the subsequent rounds.
Malvika Bansod Falls to Han Yue in Tough Battle
Indian shuttler Malvika Bansod fought valiantly but was knocked out of the India Open 2025 after a hard-fought first-round defeat to third-seeded Han Yue of China.
Bansod, who had a strong start, managed to take the first game 20-22 in a closely contested battle. However, Han Yue regrouped and came back stronger, winning the next two games 21-16, 21-11 to secure the victory.
Bansod showed great resilience in the opening game, pushing the Chinese shuttler to her limits, but ultimately couldn’t sustain her form in the latter stages. Despite the loss, the young Indian player displayed promising skills and determination, which could bode well for her future performances on the international circuit.
YOU MIGHT READ: India Out of Malaysia Open 2025 After Shetty-Rankireddy Loss
