It was a day of contrasting fortunes for Indian badminton at the Arctic Open 2025 Super 500, as Tharun Mannepalli produced one of the biggest upsets of the season while Lakshya Sen’s struggles continued with yet another first-round exit.
World No. 46 Tharun Mannepalli scripted a sensational 11-21, 21-11, 22-20 victory over seventh seed Toma Junior Popov of France, saving four match points and reeling off six consecutive points from 16–20 down in the decider to storm into the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen’s disappointing run of form persisted as he suffered his 10th first-round defeat of the season, bowing out in straight games to World No. 5 Kodai Naraoka of Japan.
For Lakshya Sen, once seen as the spearhead of India’s men’s singles hopes, 2025 has been a season marked by inconsistency and frustration. Facing Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in the opening round, Lakshya showed flashes of his attacking best but couldn’t sustain the pressure long enough against the relentless retriever. After losing the opening game 15–21, Lakshya led briefly in the second but struggled to control the rallies in the back half of the court. Naraoka’s exceptional court coverage and his ability to absorb pressure forced Lakshya into errors at crucial junctures. The Indian eventually fell 15–21, 17–21 another straight-game defeat in what has become a worrying trend.
This marks Lakshya’s 10th opening-round loss of the 2025 season across the World Tour, a statistic that underscores his ongoing battle with rhythm and confidence. His inability to close out tight games, coupled with frequent unforced errors, has left him searching for answers heading into the final stretch of the season. Once ranked inside the world’s top 10, Lakshya now finds himself struggling to string together consecutive wins a stark contrast to his breakthrough 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
Mannepalli’s miracle comeback lights up Finland
While Lakshya’s exit dampened Indian hopes early in the day, Tharun Mannepalli ensured the tricolour stayed flying high in Vantaa with a performance that will be remembered as one of the most spirited comebacks of the season.
Facing the seventh seed and home favourite Toma Junior Popov, the 22-year-old Indian began nervously, conceding the opening game 11–21 as Popov’s power and control dominated proceedings. However, Tharun regrouped brilliantly, showing tactical maturity and composure beyond his years to turn the match around.
In the second game, he dictated rallies with his forehand precision and better court coverage, winning 21–11 to force a decider. The final game, however, turned into a rollercoaster. Down 1–3 early and later trailing 12–18, Tharun appeared on the brink of defeat. Popov, known for his calm under pressure, looked set to close it out at 20–16. But Tharun refused to surrender. Displaying ice-cold nerve and flawless execution, he saved four match points mixing delicate drop shots with fearless smashes before winning six consecutive points to seal a remarkable 22–20 victory after an intense 68-minute battle.
The match was a showcase of resilience and mental fortitude. Every rally in the final stretch had the small but vocal Indian contingent on their feet as Tharun’s composure under pressure stunned the Frenchman and left the crowd in disbelief.
A statement win on the big stage
This result marks Tharun’s first-ever win over a top-20 opponent and arguably the biggest of his professional career so far. Popov, currently World No. 14 and seeded seventh here, was a clear favourite going into the contest. For Tharun, who has been quietly rising through the ranks on the BWF circuit, this victory could mark a turning point. His recent performances suggest a steady evolution a blend of aggressive intent, disciplined rally play, and growing confidence against higher-ranked players.
The win also extends his run of form from previous weeks, with consistent results on the Challenger and lower-tier circuits finally translating onto the World Tour stage.
Indian results: Mixed fortunes in opening round. Apart from Tharun’s heroics, it was a mixed day for Indian badminton in Finland.
- Ayush Shetty faced a tough draw against World No. 3 Kunlavut Vitidsarn and went down fighting 15–21, 16–21 in a straight-game defeat that nevertheless showed flashes of promise from the young Indian.
- Kiran George was forced to retire against Japan’s Koki Watanabe after trailing 1–4 in the second game due to discomfort.
- Selvam Singhi, Sankar Subramaniam, and Srikanth Kidambi also failed to progress the latter receiving a walkover as his opponent Rasmus Gemke withdrew.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles draw, Anmol Kharb and Tanya Hemanth both advanced to the second round with commanding victories, providing a silver lining to India’s campaign in the Arctic chill.
What’s next: Tharun’s big test ahead
Tharun Mannepalli will now face Germany’s Henri Squire, ranked World No. 329 but coming off a major upset of his own after defeating former World No. 23 Dusan Lajović in the previous round. The two are separated by more than 250 ranking spots, but both arrive in the Round of 16 riding waves of momentum making their clash one to watch.
For Indian fans, Tharun’s victory is not just a surprise result but a moment of rejuvenation amid a season where top names like Lakshya and Srikanth have struggled to produce consistent results. The Arctic Open may have begun with disappointment, but thanks to Tharun Mannepalli’s extraordinary fightback, it now carries the promise of a new name emerging from the ranks one unafraid to take on the giants of the sport.
Result Summary (Men’s Singles, Round of 32):
- 🇮🇳 Tharun Mannepalli d. 🇫🇷 Toma Jr Popov 11–21, 21–11, 22–20
- 🇯🇵 Kodai Naraoka d. 🇮🇳 Lakshya Sen 21–15, 21–17
- 🇹🇭 Kunlavut Vitidsarn d. 🇮🇳 Ayush Shetty 21–15, 21–16
- 🇯🇵 Koki Watanabe d. 🇮🇳 Kiran George 21–10, 4–1 (retired)
- 🇫🇷 Christo Popov d. 🇮🇳 Sankar Subramaniam 21–17, 21–11
- 🇭🇰 Yeung Yeung d. 🇮🇳 Selvam Singhi 21–9, 21–13
Women’s Singles:
- 🇮🇳 Anmol Kharb and 🇮🇳 Tanya Hemanth advanced to Round of 16.
