India’s run at the Korea Open 2025 came to a premature end on Wednesday, as senior shuttler H. S. Prannoy retired hurt and the rest of the Indian contingent failed to progress past the opening round of the main draw.
The tournament, a crucial stop on the BWF World Tour calendar, turned out to be a disappointing outing for Indian badminton, which had entered with hopes of strong performances across both singles and doubles. All eyes were on H. S. Prannoy, India’s seasoned campaigner and World Championship medalist, as he began his campaign against Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo. However, the 33-year-old’s challenge ended abruptly due to injury. Trailing 5–8 in the opening game, Prannoy attempted a sharp cross-court smash but immediately clutched his right ribs in visible pain.
Despite taking a medical timeout and attempting to continue, his movement looked restricted. The discomfort was evident, and Prannoy was eventually forced to concede the match at 8–16, retiring mid-game. For India, it was a bitter start to the tournament as one of their most experienced shuttlers walked off court injured. The extent of Prannoy’s injury remains unclear, but his retirement raises concerns with key tournaments approaching, particularly in a year where consistency is critical for maintaining rankings and Olympic qualification points.
Ayush Shetty Falls Short
India’s brightest hope on the men’s singles side, Ayush Shetty, entered the Korea Open with momentum, having earlier scripted history by becoming the only Indian this season to clinch a BWF World Tour title the U.S. Open Super 300. The 19-year-old was expected to carry his form forward, but he ran into a determined opponent in Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang. In a 47-minute battle, Shetty fought hard but fell short 18–21, 18–21. Both games followed a similar pattern closely contested exchanges where Shetty managed to keep pace but struggled to convert key points at the business end. Su Li Yang’s composure and superior control under pressure proved decisive, as Shetty’s unforced errors at crucial stages tilted the contest.
While the loss is disappointing, Shetty’s progress in recent months has been encouraging. For a youngster still settling into the senior circuit, such experiences against high-quality opponents will add to his maturity and resilience.
Spirited Fight from Kiran George
India’s Kiran George produced one of the more gripping matches of the opening day, taking on Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, the former world champion. The encounter stretched to three games, with George showing admirable grit. After going down 14–21 in the opener, George bounced back superbly in the second, clinching it 22–20 after saving multiple game points. His aggressive play and quick interceptions unsettled Loh briefly, giving the Indian camp some hope of an upset.
However, in the decider, the Singaporean found his rhythm and pulled away to a 21–14 finish. Despite the loss, George earned praise for his fighting spirit against a world-class opponent.
Women’s Singles Struggles
In women’s singles, India’s Anupama Upadhyaya faced a tough first-round draw against Indonesia’s Putri Wardani, the fourth seed and current World No. 8. The gulf in experience and execution was apparent as Anupama went down 16–21, 15–21. While she displayed glimpses of promise with her shot-making and retrieved well in patches, Wardani’s ability to control rallies and accelerate at the right moments proved too much.
For Anupama, still early in her senior career, matches against higher-ranked players like Wardani serve as valuable lessons for the future.
Early Exit in Mixed Doubles
India’s campaign in doubles also failed to take off. The pair of Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan bowed out in the opening round, losing to Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara. The Japanese duo dominated proceedings, winning comfortably 21–7, 21–14.
The match highlighted India’s ongoing struggles in mixed doubles, an area where consistent partnerships and international breakthroughs have been hard to come by. With most of the nation’s focus traditionally on men’s doubles, where Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have established themselves among the elite, other doubles categories still have significant ground to cover.
With no Indian player making it past the first round, the Korea Open 2025 will be remembered as one of the tougher outings for the national squad. Injuries, difficult draws, and missed opportunities combined to leave the team empty-handed. However, there are silver linings. Ayush Shetty’s continued presence in the main draws of Super 500-level tournaments signals the arrival of a new generation.
Kiran George’s resilience against a former world champion showcases depth in men’s singles. And though Prannoy’s injury is a concern, his experience and determination have often seen him bounce back strongly.
Indian badminton is at an intriguing juncture. On one hand, the men’s doubles pairing of Satwik and Chirag has taken the sport to unprecedented heights, consistently winning big titles and maintaining a place in the world’s top rankings. On the other, singles remains a work in progress, with veterans like Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth battling fitness and form, while youngsters such as Lakshya Sen, Priyanshu Rajawat, and Ayush Shetty are still working toward consistency at the elite level.
The Korea Open may not have yielded results, but it underlines the need for depth, particularly in women’s singles and mixed doubles. The focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for the upcoming events on the BWF World Tour, where Indian shuttlers will aim to regain momentum and put behind a forgettable week in Korea.
