Malaysia Open 2025: Indian Shuttlers Face Tough Losses; Satwik-Chirag Storm into Quarterfinals
The Indian badminton contingent had a challenging day at the PETRONAS Malaysia Open Super 1000, with most players exiting the tournament in the Round of 16.
However, the Men’s Doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty kept India’s hopes alive with a dominant win to secure a quarterfinal berth.
Prannoy’s Gritty Fight Ends in Heartbreak
In a nail-biting encounter, HS Prannoy narrowly lost to China’s Li Shifeng in the Men’s Singles Round of 16.
The match, which lasted 82 minutes, saw Prannoy bounce back after a disastrous opening game (8-21) to level the match with a 21-15 win in the second.
The decider was a rollercoaster, with Prannoy recovering from a 6-13 deficit to level at 19-19. However, Li’s resilience prevailed as he clinched the match 21-23.
Prannoy’s precise net play and smashes troubled the World No. 7 throughout, but the Indian missed key opportunities at crunch moments.
This marked a challenging end to Prannoy’s campaign, though his performance highlighted his tenacity and ability to compete with the best despite recovering from recent health setbacks.
Treesa and Gayatri’s Narrow Miss in Women’s Doubles
The women’s doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand fell agonizingly short in their Round of 16 clash against China’s Zhang Shuxian and Jia Yifan, losing 21-15, 18-21, 19-21.
The 82-minute thriller showcased Treesa’s powerful smashes and Gayatri’s sharp net play.
Despite being underdogs, the Indian duo pushed the Olympic champion Jia and her partner to the brink, making a strong case for their potential under the guidance of coach Tan Kim Her.
After dominating the first game, the Indians fell prey to Zhang’s explosive speed and Jia’s experience in the second. A poor start in the decider (0-7) did not deter Treesa and Gayatri, who fought back valiantly to come within striking distance.
However, they couldn’t capitalize on crucial points, ending their campaign in a heart-wrenching 82-minute battle.
Mixed Doubles and Women’s Singles Exits
The mixed doubles duo of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto suffered a straight-games loss (13-21, 20-22) to China’s Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi.
Similarly, S. Karunakaran and A. V ariyath fell to Malaysia’s fourth-seeded pair Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie.
In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod bowed out after a 18-21, 11-21 defeat to third seed Han Y ue of China.Satwik-Chirag Keep India’s Hopes Alive
Amid the setbacks, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty delivered a dominant performance in the men’s doubles Round of 16, defeating Malaysia’s Tan Wee Kiong and Nur
Mohd Azriyn Ayub 21-15, 21-15. The Indian duo, seeded second and last year’s finalists, remain the only Indian representatives in the quarterfinals. Interestingly they are the only seeded player left in the tournament.
Their next challenge will be against Malaysia’s Ong Y ew Sin and Teo Ee Yi in the quarterfinals, a tough test for the pair aiming to kickstart the year with a title.
Looking Ahead
While the majority of the Indian squad saw their campaigns end prematurely, the performances of Treesa-Gayatri and Prannoy highlighted the potential for future breakthroughs.
Satwik-Chirag’s consistency offers a silver lining as they march forward in the tournament, keeping Indian hopes alive at the Malaysia Open Super 1000.
The spotlight now shifts to the men’s doubles pair as they prepare to face the local favourites in a bid to bring glory to Indian badminton.
