The Indonesia Masters 2025, held at the iconic Istora Senayan in Jakarta from January 21 to 26, brought mixed fortunes for India’s badminton contingent.
With the world’s top shuttlers competing at the Super 500 tournament, Indian players delivered flashes of brilliance but ultimately fell short of progressing into the deeper stages of the event.
Fatigue and the demanding schedule seemed to play a role, as many shuttlers were participating in their third successive tournament over as many weeks.
Men’s Singles: Thrills, Upsets, and Missed Chances
In the men’s singles, Ayush Shetty grabbed headlines with a stunning victory over compatriot and former world number one Kidambi Srikanth in the qualifiers, dismantling him 21-7, 21-15.
The youngster’s run came to an end in the main draw as he pushed world number one Shi Yu Qi of China to the brink before narrowly losing 19-21, 19-21.
Shetty led 11-5 in the second game but couldn’t hold on, making it a heartbreaking defeat for the promising Indian talent.
Kiran George, coming off a strong performance in a Super 750 event the previous week, couldn’t replicate his form and lost to Korea’s Jeon Hyeok-jin 12-21, 10-21 in the opening round.
Meanwhile, Priyanshu Rajawat faced his nemesis, Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, for the fourth time, and despite a spirited comeback in the deciding game, Rajawat succumbed 14-21, 21-13, 18-21 in a 75-minute battle.
Lakshya Sen, India’s brightest prospect in the men’s singles, cruised past Takuma Obayashi 21-9, 21-14 in the first round.
However, his campaign ended in heartbreak as he lost to Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto 21-16, 12-21, 23-21 in the Round of 16, squandering opportunities to close out the match in the deciding game.
Women’s Singles: Challenges Against World-Class Opponents
India’s women’s singles contingent struggled to make a major impact. PV Sindhu, the seventh seed, suffered a shocking first-round defeat against Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh.
Despite leading 20-14 in the first game, Sindhu faltered, eventually losing 20-22, 12-21, marking a topsy-turvy start to her 2025 campaign.
Tanya Hemanth showed great determination, defeating Tung Ciou-tong of Chinese Taipei 16-21, 21-17, 21-15 to reach the Round of 32. However, she was outclassed by Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon, going down 14-21, 11-21.
Elsewhere, Rakshita Sree, Anupama Upadhyaya, and Aakarshi Kashyap faced early exits against seasoned opponents like Tomoka Miyazaki, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, and Nozomi Okuhara, respectively.
Men’s Doubles: Early Exit for Top Seeds
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India’s star duo and fourth seeds, began their campaign with a commanding 21-16, 21-15 victory over Taiwan’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh.
However, their journey ended prematurely in the Round of 16 against Thailand’s Kittinupong Kedren and Dechapol Puavaranukroh.
Despite having five game points, the Indian pair lost 20-22, 21-23, in a match where nerves and missed opportunities proved costly.
Women’s Doubles: Bright Start but Narrow Exit
In the absence of Tressa-Gayatri, India’s sole representatives in this category- Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto- made a strong start, dismantling Thailand’s Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai 21-6, 21-14 in their opening match.
The duo put up a valiant fight in the next round against Malaysia’s Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing but fell short, losing 21-13, 22-24, 18-21, where they had a match point too.
Mixed Doubles: Close but Not Enough
Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila delivered a solid first-round performance, beating Indonesia’s Indah Cahya Sari Jamil and Adnan Maulana 21-18, 21-14.
Their campaign ended in the Round of 16 against Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin in a closely contested three-game battle, 21-18, 15-21, 19-21.
Despite the loss, the Indian pair’s resilience against the world number 18 duo highlighted their potential to rise in the global rankings.
Conclusion: Promises and Challenges Amidst Fatigue
While the Indian shuttlers showcased moments of brilliance, the tournament highlighted the gaps that need to be bridged to consistently compete against the world’s best.
For many, the back-to-back tournaments over the last three weeks have taken a toll, leading to visible fatigue on the court.
Despite the early exits, there were commendable performances, particularly from Ayush Shetty and Tanisha Crasto, that signal a bright future for Indian badminton.
As the season progresses, Indian players will aim to fine-tune their strategies, build endurance, and return stronger in the upcoming tournaments. With the right balance of rest and preparation, the shuttlers can certainly regain their rhythm and reclaim their place in the latter stages of major events.
