Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy progressed to the pre-quarterfinals of the Kumamoto Masters 2025 after impressive opening-round wins. In a separate update significant to Indian badminton, Jerlin Jayaratchagan, a three-time Deaflympic gold medallist, has been appointed India’s flag-bearer at the Deaflympics Tokyo 2025, signalling an important achievement for India in terms of representation and inclusiveness in sport.
Prannoy Wins 68-Minute Thriller In Kumamoto Masters 2025
In another match, H.S. Prannoy triumphed in a tough three-game match over Malaysia’s Jun Hao Leong, winning 16-21, 21-13, 23-21, at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium. After losing the first game, he adjusted to longer rallies to draw mistakes and re-establish control of the contest. Prannoy saved 2 match points and had one of the biggest victories of his season, leading him to his first Round of 16 in 14 tournaments. The victory comes at a good time, as much of his year has been recovery from inconsistency and injury.
Player | 1st Game | 2nd Game | 3rd Game | Result |
H.S. Prannoy (IND) | 16 | 21 | 23 | Won 2–1 ; advanced to the Round of 16 after saving 2 match points |
Jun Hao Leong (MAS) | 21 | 13 | 21 |
- Venue: Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium, Japan
- Match Duration: 68 minutes
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Sen Cruises Past Koki Watanabe
Seventh seed Lakshya Sen secured a convincing straight-game win over Japan’s Koki Watanabe, with scores of 21-12, 21-16, at the Kumamoto Masters 2025. The 23-year-old Indian shuttler, a semi-finalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was in complete command of this match, with explosive smashes and credible defensive set-ups. With this victory, Sen moves to the Round of 16, where he will take on Jia Heng Jason Teh of Singapore.
Player | 1st Game | 2nd Game | 3rd Game | Result |
Lakshya Sen (IND) | 21 | 21 | – | Won 2–0 ; advanced to Round of 16 |
Koki Watanabe (JPN) | 12 | 16 | – |
Other Indian Results:
- Ayush Shetty lost to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 16-21, 11-21
- Kiran George and Tharun Mannepalli exited in the first round
- Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Gadde lost in mixed doubles
- Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye bowed out in the women’s singles qualifiers
Jerlin Jayaratchagan Named India’s Flag Bearer
Away from the court, Jerlin Jayaratchagan has been appointed India’s flag bearer for the Deaflympics Tokyo 2025, which will take place from November 15 to 26. The 21-year-old from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, has won three gold medals and is an Arjuna Awardee for representing India at both the 2017 Samsun and 2021 Brazil edition (2022).
Her selection is a mark of her consistency and leadership, as India will be sending its largest-ever team of 111 athletes in 11 sports, including badminton, athletics, shooting, and table tennis.
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Kumamoto Masters 2025 : Sen and Prannoy’s Next Opponents
Lakshya Sen will square off against Loh Kean Yew, a former world champion from Singapore, on November 14, 2025, in the quarterfinal round of the Kumamoto Masters 2025. H.S. Prannoy, in turn, will be competing against Rasmus Gemke, a top-ten Danish professional. Gemke, who plays a great defensive game and covers the court well, will be a tough match for Prannoy.
Bigyan Samele’s Take
To me, Sen and H.S. Prannoy’s performance at the Kumamoto Masters 2025 reflects India’s developing ability to be consistent in world badminton, and Jerlin Jayaratchagan leading the Deaflympics Tokyo 2025 as flag bearer squad adds a beautiful dimension to badminton’s narrative of grit and pride. It shows that Indian sports are growing beyond borders today. As a badminton fan, I could not be happier seeing the overall growth of the sport.
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