The much-anticipated China Open 2025 Super 1000 kicks off tomorrow in Changzhou, running from 22nd to 26th July.
A tournament steeped in history, it has often been the stage where Indian badminton’s finest have either scripted glory or battled heartbreak. As the Indian contingent gears up for this edition, there’s a sense of cautious optimism mixed with the weight of history.
Golden Era in Superseries Days
Rewinding to the Superseries era, India’s record at the China Open was nothing short of golden. In 2014, Saina Nehwal produced one of the most memorable runs of her career, capturing the women’s singles title by outplaying the world’s best. The same year, Srikanth Kidambi stunned fans by clinching the men’s singles title, defeating the legendary Lin Dan in the final a moment still etched in Indian sporting memory. Saina returned in 2015 to finish runner-up, reaffirming her place among the sport’s elite.
A year later, in 2016, PV Sindhu, fresh from her Rio Olympic silver medal, made her own mark by winning the China Open title. Those years built an aura: China Open became the place where Indian shuttlers could and did stand tall.
A Different Story in the World Tour Era
However, since the BWF World Tour restructure in 2018, the narrative has shifted. The deep runs have been harder to come by, and titles have proven elusive. The best finishes by Indian players since then have been quarterfinal appearances:
- Malvika Bansod in 2024
- Sai Praneeth in 2019
- PV Sindhu and Srikanth Kidambi in 2018
While respectable, these results fall short of the benchmark set in the Superseries days. And so, as the 2025 edition begins, there’s a shared question among fans and analysts alike: can someone change the script?
India’s Squad: Mix of Experience and Fresh Faces
This year’s Indian squad brings together seasoned stars and rising talent, each with different goals and expectations.
Men’s Singles:
- Lakshya Sen
- HS Prannoy
Lakshya Sen returns to a big stage after mixed performances earlier in the season, hoping to rediscover the form that took him to the All England final in 2022. HS Prannoy, known for his giant-killing instincts, remains India’s most reliable singles player over the past two years. Both will aim to break through the quarterfinal ceiling that has held Indian men’s singles back at this tournament.
Women’s Singles:
- PV Sindhu
- Unnati Hooda
- Anupama Upadhyaya
Sindhu remains the biggest hope, given her pedigree and past success at the China Open. However, her recent inconsistency means the spotlight is equally on young talents like Unnati Hooda and Anupama Upadhyaya. Both teenagers have impressed on the BWF Tour, and a deep run here could signal the arrival of India’s next women’s singles star.
Men’s Doubles:
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty
India’s world-class men’s doubles duo, Satwik and Chirag, are seeded high and come in as genuine medal contenders. With a Super 1000 title already on their CV from the Indonesia Open, they know how to navigate big weeks. A title run here would reaffirm their place among the world’s very best.
Women’s Doubles:
- Panda/Panda
- Kavipriya/Simran
- Amrutha/Sonali
Women’s doubles has traditionally been India’s weaker area, but new pairings bring fresh hope. While immediate title expectations may be unrealistic, any quarterfinal or better finish would mark progress.
Mixed Doubles:
- Rohan/Ruthvika
- Ashith/Amrutha
Still building experience at this level, these young pairs will treat the China Open as a learning opportunity against elite opposition.
The China Open remains one of the sport’s toughest tournaments, a Super 1000 event that consistently attracts the top-10 players in every category. The draw is deep; early rounds often feature world-class opponents. For Indian players, the mission isn’t just about causing an upset it’s about stringing together back-to-back wins against elite names, something that has proven elusive in recent years.
In men’s singles, the path likely runs through opponents like Viktor Axelsen, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, or Shi Yuqi. For Sindhu and the women’s singles contingent, there’s the challenge of overcoming the dominant Chinese and Korean players, along with Japan’s rising talents. And in doubles, the Indonesian, Chinese, and Korean pairs are among the toughest in the world.
Beyond Results: A Chance to Reset
Yet, tournaments like these are about more than just medals. They’re about momentum, confidence, and statement wins. For Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy, it’s a chance to remind the badminton world and themselves of their calibre. For Sindhu, it’s about regaining the rhythm that once made her the sport’s most feared counter-puncher. And for the younger names, it’s the perfect test to learn what it takes to compete at the very top.
The China Open has given Indian badminton some of its most iconic moments and also some of its toughest lessons. Starting tomorrow, the 2025 edition offers another opportunity: to close the gap between nostalgia and now, and maybe, just maybe, to add a new name to the list of Indian champions.
As play begins, one thing is clear: history isn’t a burden; it’s a target. And this week, Indian shuttlers will aim right at it.
Data Courtesy Shivendu
