It was a day of commanding performances and hard-fought wins as Indian shuttlers sealed multiple final berths at the ongoing international-level badminton event at the Telangana International Challenge.
Across categories, several established and emerging names rose to the occasion, ensuring a strong Indian presence in the summit clashes. In the mixed doubles semifinals, Ishaan Bhatnagar and Aradhana Balachandra were clinical, defeating Nitin Kumar and Ritika Thaker 21-10, 16-21, 21-7. The top-seeded duo showed great control in the decider after briefly losing rhythm in the second game. Their composure under pressure stood out, and they will be among the favorites heading into the final.
Over on Court C-2, it was a dramatic contest as Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram and Reshika Uthayasooryiyan came from behind to edge out Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K 14-21, 21-12, 21-19. The young pair showcased grit in a tense third game, recovering from a slow start to book their place in the final. In women’s singles, the experienced Mansi Singh continued her strong form, easing past Sakshi Phogat 21-17, 21-13. Mansi looked in control throughout, dictating the rallies with precision and pace.
She will now face top seed Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, who showed resilience to overcome a tough challenge from Shreya Lele, winning 15-21, 21-15, 21-10. Rakshitha’s ability to bounce back after losing the first game highlighted her championship mindset.
The women’s doubles semifinals saw contrasting matches. Top seeds Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra produced a dominant display to defeat Rashmi Ganesh and Sania Sikkandar 21-11, 21-6, sealing their spot in the final in just 25 minutes. Their attacking play and near-flawless coordination left little room for their opponents to respond. On the other hand, Gayatri Rawat and Mansa Rawat were halted by Thailand’s Hathathitip Muad and Nappakorn Tungkasan, who won 21-8, 21-14. The Thai pair’s aggressive front-court play and superior defense proved decisive, ending India’s chances of an all-home final in the category.
In the men’s singles category, top-seeded Indians continued to dominate. Mithun Manjunath delivered a commanding performance, defeating Tushar Suveer 21-16, 21-18. Mithun, the third seed, maintained his tempo throughout, never allowing Suveer to find momentum. His control in mid-rallies and precision at the net stood out in a match lasting 41 minutes.
Joining him in the final will be Alap Mishra, who outlasted Ginpaul Sonna 13-21, 21-15, 21-17. Alap’s comeback win was one of the day’s highlights after a shaky start, he turned the tide with smart placement and tighter defense. His adaptability under pressure was a clear indicator of his growing maturity on court. The men’s doubles semifinals also witnessed impressive Indian performances. Hariharan Amsakarunan and M.R. Arun showed great synergy to upset the Uzbek pair of Rodion Alimov and Maksim Oglobilin 21-18, 21-14. Their attacking style and quick rotation gave them full control of the match.
Meanwhile, in another exciting men’s doubles clash, Thailand’s Pharanyu Kaosamaang and Tanadon Punpanich edged past Singapore’s Donovan Willard Wee and Jia Hao Howin Wong in a thriller — 22-24, 22-20, 21-15 — to advance to the title round. The Thai duo held their nerve in crucial moments, turning both the first and second games around in extra points.
With several Indian shuttlers reaching the finals across categories, the championship finale promises to be an action-packed day for home fans. The standout matchups including Rakshitha Sree vs Mansi Singh in women’s singles, and Mithun Manjunath vs Alap Mishra in men’s singles are set to headline the final day at the GMC Balayogi Sports Complex.
Finals Day Awaits with India in contention for titles in nearly every category.
