India’s singles contingent produced a mixed but encouraging set of results on the opening full day of the Thailand Masters Super 300 in Bangkok, with Kiran George, Mithun Manjunath, Tharun Mannepalli and Anmol Kharb all advancing to the second round, while several other Indians bowed out after hard-fought contests.
In the men’s singles, seventh seed Kiran George delivered one of the most assured performances of the day, brushing aside Malaysia’s Sholeh Aidil in straight games in just 27 minutes. Ranked 45th in the world, Aidil had few answers to Kiran’s pace, precision and court control as the Indian won 21–15, 21–9. From the outset, Kiran dictated rallies with his tight net play and sharp angles from the back court, refusing to let his opponent settle. The emphatic nature of the victory underlined Kiran’s growing confidence as he continues his comeback from injury and looks to push back into the upper echelons of the BWF Tour.
World No. 60 Mithun Manjunath, meanwhile, produced one of the biggest Indian wins of the day, knocking out eighth seed Magnus Johannesen of Denmark in a gripping three-game encounter. Manjunath raced through the opening game 21–12 with aggressive attacking play and fearless shot-making, but Johannesen struck back strongly in the second, taking it 21–9. The decider saw both players trading long rallies and momentum shifts before Manjunath held his nerve in the closing stages to seal a 21–17 victory after 59 minutes of intense badminton. The result was a reminder of Manjunath’s ability to rise to big occasions, especially against higher-ranked opponents.
Tharun Mannepalli also moved into the second round, defeating home favourite Kantaphon Wangcharoen 22–20, 21–17. The opening game was particularly tight, with Mannepalli saving key points before edging it in the closing stages, a psychological boost that carried him through a more controlled second game. The win gives Mannepalli another opportunity to test himself against strong international opposition in the later rounds.
However, not all Indian men enjoyed success. Thomas Cup hero Priyanshu Rajawat came agonisingly close to a major upset before falling 21–15, 13–21, 20–22 to fourth seed Brian Yang of Canada. Rajawat dominated the opening game with his attacking flair, but Yang adjusted well and forced a decider. In the final game, Rajawat had his chances but couldn’t convert in the closing moments, eventually succumbing by the narrowest of margins.
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Youngster Manraj Singh was unable to progress, losing 21–16, 21–14 to China’s Zhu Xuan Chen. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, the 2022 World Junior Championships silver medallist, pushed fifth seed Arnaud Merkle hard before going down 13–21, 21–14, 19–21. The narrow defeat highlighted both Subramanian’s potential and the fine margins that often separate wins from losses at this level.
The women’s singles saw one of India’s brightest prospects, Anmol Kharb, continue her impressive run. The 19-year-old brushed aside Hong Kong’s Lo Sin Yan Happy 21–12, 21–12 in a confident display that showcased her improved shot selection and court coverage. Kharb now faces a much sterner test against fifth seed Huang Yu-Hsun of Chinese Taipei in the second round, but her form suggests she will not be overawed by the challenge.
Tasnim Mir, however, exited in the opening round after a 9–21, 19–21 defeat to the same Huang Yu-Hsun, while Anupama Upadhyaya suffered a narrow loss to Peng Yu Wei of Chinese Taipei, going down 13–21, 20–22 after being within touching distance of forcing a decider.
Shriyanshi Valishetty kept India’s flag flying in the women’s draw with a hard-fought three-game victory over Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang, recovering from the loss of the first game to win 14–21, 21–13, 21–19. Her ability to stay composed in tight situations proved decisive as she booked her place in the second round.
In an all-Indian clash, Isharani Baruah defeated Malvika Bansod 21–12, 21–8 to set up a challenging second-round encounter against second seed Shuo Yun Sung of Chinese Taipei. Baruah’s clean hitting and tactical discipline ensured she was never seriously threatened in the tie.
India’s mixed doubles challenge ended early as Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K were beaten 16–21, 7–21 by the Chinese Taipei pair of He Zhi-Wei and Liang Ching Sun, who proved too sharp and coordinated on the day.
Overall, the opening round in Bangkok offered a snapshot of Indian badminton’s depth and transition. While experienced campaigners like Rajawat endured heartbreak, the progress of players such as Kiran George, Mithun Manjunath, Tharun Mannepalli and Anmol Kharb provided plenty of optimism.
As the Thailand Masters moves into its second round, India will look to build on these performances and turn promising starts into deeper runs at one of the season’s key Super 300 events.
