As the 2025 badminton season nears its conclusion, the Syed Modi India International returns to Lucknow with renewed significance.
Scheduled as the final HSBC BWF World Tour event of the year, the tournament has become a proving ground for India’s emerging shuttlers many of whom will be aiming to close the season on a high and make strong bids for higher-tier events in 2026.
This year’s event carries an added layer of intrigue. With several top-tier names withdrawing late, the draw has opened up for a large group of young Indian talents who earned promotions into the main rounds. The stage is set for compelling narratives across all categories.
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In women’s singles, three of India’s brightest prospects Unnati Hooda, Anmol Kharb, and Tanvi Sharma headline the domestic challenge. This trio has been part of India’s junior-to-senior transition pipeline, and facing a high-quality international field in Lucknow will be a pivotal step in their progression.
The draw features formidable opposition. Former world champion Nozomi Okuhara brings vast experience, while third seed Sung Shuo Yun, fourth seed Neslihan Arin, and sixth seed Polina Buhrova add depth and variety to the competition. For the young Indians, these matchups offer an ideal opportunity to test their adaptability and temperament against established contenders.
The women’s singles section also sees Indian shuttler Prakriti Bharat promoted into the main draw—a significant milestone as she continues to climb the domestic circuit.
Veterans and Newcomers in Men’s Singles
The men’s singles competition promises an interesting contrast of experience and youth. Two Indian veterans HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth feature prominently.
Prannoy, seeded third, opens against qualifier Shashwat Dalal, another Indian who earned his place through promotion. For Prannoy, the tournament offers a chance to stabilise form after an inconsistent year. For Dalal, squaring off against a senior figure of Indian badminton provides invaluable exposure.
Srikanth, meanwhile, starts his campaign against Kavin Thangam. The former world No. 1 has had a fluctuating season, and these early rounds will test his ability to control matches against hungry youngsters.
At the top of the draw sits Jason Teh, the Korea Masters champion, who will be the player to beat. His consistency and recent run of form make him a strong contender. Among his challengers are names like Magnus Johannessen, Kiran George, Mithun Manjunath, Priyanshu Rajawat, and Yudai Okimoto, ensuring a competitive and unpredictable field.
The promotions list underscores the influx of Indian talent: Lakshay Sharma, Minoru Koga, Siddhanth Gupta, Saneeth Dayanand, Manav Choudhary, Orijit Chaliha, Oleksii Titov, Nicholas Raj, Naren Shankar Iyer, Arya Bhivpathaki, and Ginpaul Sonna all join the main draw—an unusually large group that reflects both opportunity and depth.
Doubles: A Chance to Break Through
In doubles, India has several new entries eager to make a mark.
- Men’s Doubles: The pair of K Balamarugan / Parth Vaid has been promoted—an encouraging sign for India’s growing depth in the discipline.
- Women’s Doubles: Aparna Balan / DR Balasubramanian enter the main draw, adding an experienced presence.
- Mixed Doubles: Two Indian pairs, Ayush Makhija / Simran Singh and Devvart Mann / Nishu Malik earn their chance to compete on a bigger stage.
These promotions reflect a broad-based development push across the doubles categories, where Indian badminton has historically lacked consistency.
Notable Withdrawals Create New Opportunities
This year’s tournament also sees a string of withdrawals across categories, including players like Kok Jin Hong, Le Duc Phat, Ayush Shetty, Pradhiska Shujiwo, Kantaphon Wangcharoen, Adham Elgamal, and more. In women’s singles, players like Doha Hany are absent, while Choong H M / Haikal, and several mixed doubles teams have pulled out as well.
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While unfortunate, these absences widen the draw and create rare windows of opportunity especially for India’s younger brigade looking to make deep runs.
A Tournament Defined by Possibilities
The 2025 Syed Modi India International stands out not for star-loaded fields but for the promise of emerging talent. For India, it represents one of the most significant pathways for young shuttlers to transition from domestic stardom to international relevance.
With a mix of seasoned veterans, rising prospects, and reshuffled draws, Lucknow is poised to witness breakthrough performances and perhaps the arrival of India’s next badminton star.
