Indian badminton enjoyed one of its strongest days in recent World Tour history as five men’s singles players marched into the Round of 16 at the SATHIO Group Australian Open 2025.
Performances across the draw reflected both composure under pressure and growing depth within the national setup. This is the first time since the Syed Modi International 2024 that five Indian men have reached the R16 of a World Tour event, and the first time outside India since the Australian Open 2023, when Manjunath, Kiran, Kidambi, Rajawat, and Prannoy had progressed deep into the tournament.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
By the end of a long, competitive day in Sydney, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, H.S. Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, and Tharun Mannepalli had all secured their places in the pre-quarterfinals, marking a rare and encouraging moment for Indian badminton.
Former World No. 1 Srikanth Kidambi produced one of the standout wins of the opening round. Up against All England 2025 finalist and World No. 20 Lee Chia Hao, Srikanth displayed clarity in the big moments to register a 21-19, 19-21, 21-15 victory.
After edging the first game, Srikanth appeared in full control of the second before a series of errors brought Lee back into the contest. The decider, however, saw the Indian regain his rhythm, forcing quick openings and finishing confidently at the net. The match lasted 64 minutes, and Srikanth now moves into the R16 where he faces Japan’s Shogo Ogawa (WR 73).
H.S. Prannoy Shows Grit After a Slow Start
India’s most experienced singles campaigner in the draw, H.S. Prannoy, endured a shaky start but recovered with authority. Prannoy dropped the first game 6-21 to Indonesia’s Yohanes Saut Marcellyno, offering little rhythm or control. The turnaround, though, was emphatic.
With improved length, tighter net play and far fewer errors, Prannoy took the next two games 21-12, 21-17 to seal his spot in the R16. His next challenge will be another Indonesian, Alwi Farhan, a rising talent known for his pace and steep attack.
Seventh seed Lakshya Sen opened his campaign with a clinical performance against Chinese Taipei’s Au Li Yang, claiming a 21-17, 21-13 win. Sen controlled the tempo from the outset, mixing quick intercepts with aggressive mid-court play. The straight-games win underlined his sharpness and placed him comfortably into the R16, maintaining his momentum from recent World Tour events.
Ayush Shetty Records One of the Cleanest Wins of the Day
India’s young prospect Ayush Shetty delivered one of the most assured performances of the round. Facing Canada’s Sam Yuan, Ayush dominated throughout, winning 21-11, 21-15 in just 33 minutes.
It was a match marked by consistency and control, with Ayush rarely allowing the rallies to drift into uncomfortable lengths. He is expected to meet Kodai Naraoka, the 2025 Japan Masters champion, in what could be one of the most anticipated R16 clashes for India.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
Perhaps the most dramatic match of the day came from Tharun Mannepalli, who survived a gripping three-game contest against Denmark’s Magnus Johannessen. Tharun took the opener 21-13, only to drop the second 17-21 after a strong Danish fightback.
The decider went down to the wire, with Tharun staying composed during the final exchanges. He edged ahead 21-19, although the match ended with Johannessen protesting the final line call. The decision stood, giving the Indian a memorable victory in 65 minutes.
Notable Results: Kiran George Falls Short, Jaglans Exit in Mixed Doubles
Elsewhere, Kiran George put up a solid fight before falling to in-form Japanese shuttler Kenta Nishimoto, runner-up at the Kumamoto Masters. Kiran took the first game 21-11 but Nishimoto’s comeback in the second 24-22 proved decisive. The Japanese star controlled the decider to win 21-17.
In mixed doubles, India’s Mohit Jaglan / Lakshita Jaglan exited in the R32 after a loss to Canada’s Nyl Yakura / Crystal Lai, who won 21-12, 21-16 in 26 minutes.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
With five Indians in the R16 Sen, Prannoy, Srikanth, Ayush and Tharun India’s men’s singles contingent has delivered one of its best collective performances in recent memory. On a tour where depth has often been a concern, this result stands out as a positive sign ahead of major tournaments later in the season.
The coming rounds will test consistency, but for now, Indian badminton has every reason to be upbeat about an impressive Day 1 at the Australian Open 2025 Super 500.
