Indian badminton enjoyed a day of significant breakthroughs at the Yonex Swiss Open 2026 Super 300 as Kiran George, Tharun Mannepalli, and the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto produced impressive performances to reach the Round of 16 of the tournament.
The opening round in Basel saw India record key upsets and resilient wins, highlighting the growing depth of the country’s badminton talent. While there were also setbacks for several Indian players, the victories by Kiran, Tharun, and the Kapila–Crasto pair stood out as the biggest highlights of the day.
Kiran George Stuns Loh Kean Yew
The biggest upset came from Kiran George, who delivered one of the most impressive wins of his career by defeating former world champion and world No. 11 Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in straight games. Ranked world No. 42, Kiran showed tremendous composure to win 23–21, 21–19, eliminating the third seed from the tournament.
The opening game was a dramatic contest. Kiran found himself trailing 17–19, with Loh holding two game points. However, the Indian shuttler held his nerve under pressure, saving both game points before stringing together crucial rallies to take the game 23–21.
The second game saw Kiran maintain control with disciplined rally play and accurate attacking shots. Despite Loh attempting to mount a comeback, Kiran stayed composed and closed out the match 21–19 to secure a memorable victory.
The win marks one of the biggest results of Kiran’s career and underlines his growing confidence on the international circuit. He will now face Jason Gunawan of Hong Kong in the Round of 16.
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Another Indian success story came in the men’s singles draw through Tharun Mannepalli, who progressed to the pre-quarterfinals after Japanese shuttler Kenta Nishimoto retired mid-match due to a shoulder injury. The match had already turned into an intense three-game battle before Nishimoto was forced to withdraw. Tharun had lost the opening game 16–21 but showed strong determination to bounce back and claim the second game 21–16, pushing the contest into a deciding game.
In the third game, Tharun had built a 7–2 lead when Nishimoto was unable to continue because of the injury. While the retirement ended the match prematurely, Tharun’s performance in the second and third games demonstrated his fighting spirit and ability to recover under pressure.
The Indian shuttler will now face either Arnaud Merkle of France or Justin Hoh of Malaysia in the Round of 16. Nishimoto’s withdrawal was unfortunate, and the badminton community extended wishes for his quick recovery.
Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto Upset Fourth Seeds
India also produced a major upset in the mixed doubles draw, where Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto defeated the fourth-seeded Danish pair of Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund.
The Indian duo played an aggressive and confident match to win 21–15, 21–14 in straight games.
Kapila and Crasto controlled the rallies with sharp net play and powerful attacking shots, preventing the Danish pair from establishing their rhythm. Their consistent pressure allowed them to dominate both games and secure a convincing victory against the higher-ranked opponents.
The result marks one of the most significant wins for the Indian pair in recent months. They will now face the Chinese duo Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying in the Round of 16.
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While several Indian players produced standout victories, others experienced mixed fortunes in the opening round. Veteran Kidambi Srikanth began strongly in his match against Jason Gunawan but eventually went down in three games.
Srikanth took the opening game 21–15, displaying his trademark attacking play. However, Gunawan gradually gained control of the rallies and won the next two games 21–12, 21–4 to advance. In the women’s singles draw, Malvika Bansod, Tanvi Sharma, and Unnati Hooda were unable to progress after suffering defeats in their respective matches.
Malvika lost to Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, while Tanvi Sharma went down against Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia. Unnati Hooda also exited the tournament after losing to Chiu Pin Chian of Chinese Taipei.
Despite the mixed results across different categories, the victories by Kiran George, Tharun Mannepalli, and Dhruv Kapila–Tanisha Crasto provide encouraging signs for Indian badminton. Kiran’s upset win over a former world champion highlights his potential to challenge higher-ranked players, while Tharun’s fighting comeback shows his growing resilience on the international stage.
Meanwhile, the mixed doubles victory by Kapila and Crasto reinforces India’s progress in doubles disciplines, an area that has traditionally been dominated by Asian and European pairs. As the tournament progresses into the Round of 16, Indian fans will hope that the momentum created by these performances can translate into deeper runs in the competition.
With several promising talents now advancing into the next round, India continues to remain a strong presence at the Swiss Open 2026.
