The Telangana India International Challenge 2025 concluded with one of the strongest all-round Indian performances at an International Challenge event in recent years.
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With finalists in every category except one and champions in four of the five disciplines, India stamped complete authority on home soil reflecting both depth in the domestic circuit and the rising consistency of its developing pairs.
The highlight belonged, yet again, to the rapidly ascending men’s doubles pair M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan, who clinched their third consecutive title, extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches, and completed the tournament without dropping a single game. Their triumph over Thailand’s 3rd-seeded duo Pharanyu Kaosamaang/Tanadon Punpanich the same pair that won the Mangalore International Challenge last week was controlled and clinical: 21-14, 21-14 in just 35 minutes.
The Arjun–Hariharan partnership, formed only this season, has rapidly become India’s most exciting development in men’s doubles outside the established senior pool. Their Telangana win is now their third title in three weeks, following victories in:
- Mangalore International Challenge 2025
- Nepal International Series 2025
- Telangana International Challenge 2025
Across the five tournaments they’ve played since pairing up, the duo have shown constant upward momentum, culminating in a break into the Top 80 of the world rankings. What stands out is not just the winning streak, but the manner of dominance: at Telangana IC, they weathered semifinal pressure against Russian opponents and still maintained their perfect record.
With the 2025 season heading into a packed Asian circuit, Arjun–Hariharan’s rise positions them as strong candidates for higher-grade events and potential challengers to India’s second rung of established MD pairs.
Mansi Singh Claims Back-to-Back Titles in Women’s Singles
In women’s singles, Mansi Singh continued her golden run by clinching her second consecutive title, defeating top seed Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj 21-9, 21-14. Her run in Hyderabad was marked by composure, tempo control, and efficient shot selection particularly in the semifinal, where she outplayed higher-ranked rivals.
The final itself showcased Mansi’s improved physical base and match rhythm. After racing to a 21-9 opening game win, she controlled the net exchanges and counter-attacked sharply whenever Rakshitha attempted to increase pace. With this win, Mansi consolidates her status as India’s most promising women’s singles shuttler outside the current national camp.
Men’s singles saw one of the most one-sided finals of the day as Ginpaul Sonna defeated 3rd seed Mithun Manjunath 21-9, 21-11. Sonna, who has long been seen as a player capable of sporadic big wins, produced his most complete performance of the season. From steep smashes to precise back-court control, his tactical clarity against an experienced opponent stood out. His run also ensured India secured the men’s singles crown, completing a full sweep of India-versus-India semifinals in the category.
All-Indian Showdown in Mixed Doubles
The mixed doubles final delivered another India-only contest, as two newly formed pairs continued their breakthrough tournament runs. The duo of Sathwik Kanapuram and Reshika Uthayasooriyan defeated Ishaan Bhatnagar and Aradhana Balachandra 22-20, 21-8 to lift the title.
Both pairs were notable stories through the week:
- Sathwik/Reshika knocked out last week’s Mangalore IC runners-up from Thailand in the semis.
- Ishaan/Aradhana took out another Thai pair to set up an all-India final.
For a newly assembled mixed doubles pool, these results hint at encouraging potential. The fact that Indian pairs handled experienced Thai combinations with confidence is especially promising for future International Series and Challenge events.
Thailand Deny India a Clean Sweep in Women’s Doubles
India’s only loss in the finals came in women’s doubles, where Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam fell 16-21, 16-21 to Thailand’s Hathathip Mijad/Nappakorn Tungkasatan. Despite the defeat, the pair reached their first final together and held their own in extended rallies. Against Thailand’s more seasoned duo, Priya and Shruti struggled with mid-court interceptions but showed good structure for a developing partnership.
India’s Most Dominant IC Performance of 2025
The representation numbers underline how completely India controlled the tournament:
Semifinals Representation
- India: 16 entries
- Thailand: 2
- Athlete Independent: 1
- Singapore: 1
Finals Representation
- India: 8
- Thailand: 2
This meant India had guaranteed titles in men’s singles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles even before finals day began.
As the Indian circuit continues to grow in depth, Telangana IC 2025 will be remembered as a landmark event one where new pairings broke through, established names reaffirmed their positions, and the country showcased its most comprehensive performance across all five categories. With Arjun/Hariharan emerging as the story of the season, and players like Mansi, Sonna, and the young XD pairs building momentum, the 2025 Asian leg promises to be India’s most exciting mid-tier badminton phase in years.
