The 2025 SUWON VICTOR BWF Korea Open, a BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, will see some of the finest shuttlers from around the globe converge at the Suwon Gymnasium from September 23 to 28.
With a prize purse of USD 475,000 and crucial ranking points at stake, the event is a pivotal battleground on the international badminton calendar. For India, the tournament comes at a fascinating juncture. While the country’s top doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have opted out due to a packed schedule, the spotlight shifts to H.S. Prannoy and a promising crop of young shuttlers eager to leave their mark.
India’s Contingent: A Blend of Experience and Youth
India’s representation in Suwon spans singles and mixed doubles, featuring both veterans and rising stars:
- Men’s Singles: H.S. Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, Kiran George
- Women’s Singles: Anupama Upadhyay
- Mixed Doubles: Mohit Jaglan & Lakshita Jaglan
- Qualifiers: Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, Tharun Mannepalli
Interestingly, a discrepancy in the official entry list showed Kidambi Srikanth’s name, though reports suggest a likely late withdrawal. Such last-minute changes underline the unpredictable nature of tournament participation.
Men’s Singles: The Heart of India’s Campaign
H.S. Prannoy The Veteran’s Road
Prannoy begins his campaign against a qualifier, a comfortable start on paper. But the deeper rounds could pit him against third seed Chou Tien-chen, a formidable challenge.
Fresh from an intense three-game clash with Anders Antonsen at the World Championships, where he pushed the Dane to the brink, Prannoy’s resilience and big-match temperament will be his biggest assets. For him, a quarterfinal or semifinal finish would be a statement of consistency at this stage of his career.
Ayush Shetty – Riding Momentum
One of India’s brightest prospects, Ayush Shetty arrives in Suwon with confidence, having recently stunned World No. 9 Kodai Naraoka. His first-round clash against Chinese Taipei’s Su Li-yang presents another opportunity to prove that his upset victory was no flash in the pan. A strong run here could mark his true arrival on the senior circuit.
Kiran George – Facing a Former World Champion
George faces a daunting opener against fifth seed Loh Kean Yew, the 2021 world champion. Yet, Loh himself admitted to being “rusty” after a long break before the World Championships. If George can seize this window, he may turn a tough draw into a career-defining breakthrough.
Qualifiers – Testing Their Mettle
- Meiraba Luwang Maisnam takes on Korea’s Yoo Tae Bin.
- Tharun Mannepalli, the second seed in qualifying, faces Denmark’s Mads Christophersen.
Their immediate task is survival through qualifiers, but even a main-draw appearance would underline the depth of India’s next generation.
Women’s Singles: Anupama Upadhyay’s Trial by Fire
With P.V. Sindhu absent, India’s women’s singles hopes rest on Anupama Upadhyay, who faces fourth seed Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia in the opener. The odds are steep, but even a fighting performance will provide invaluable exposure at this level. A win, meanwhile, would be a career-changing upset.
Mixed Doubles: The Jaglan Siblings’ Test
The young pairing of Mohit and Lakshita Jaglan face a tough first-round draw against Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara. For them, Korea represents a chance to measure their level against established international pairs and lay foundations for future growth.
The Global Field: Elite Competition Awaits
The Korea Open boasts a glittering lineup across disciplines:
Men’s Singles Seeds: Anders Antonsen, Li Shi Feng, Chou Tien-chen, Jonatan Christie, Loh Kean Yew, Kodai Naraoka, Kenta Nishimoto, and Weng Hong Yang.
Women’s Singles: World and Olympic champion An Se-young headlines, fresh from a dominant China Masters win.
Men’s Doubles: Korea’s red-hot duo Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, winners of seven titles in 2025 including the All England and China Masters, stand as the pair to beat.
Mixed Doubles: China’s top-seeded pairs Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping and Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin lead the field.
This depth of quality highlights the scale of challenge for the Indian contingent.
What Defines Success for India in Suwon?
For India, success in Korea cannot be measured only by podium finishes. Instead, the benchmarks are:
- Prannoy: A deep run cementing his place among the elite.
- Shetty & George: Breakthrough performances or competitive matches against higher-ranked opponents.
- Upadhyay & the Jaglans: Valuable international exposure.
- Maisnam & Mannepalli: Making the main draw to signal depth in Indian badminton.
The Korea Open serves as more than just another stop on the BWF Tour it’s a litmus test for India’s badminton pipeline. While seasoned stars like Prannoy and Satwik/Chirag remain pillars of strength, India’s future rests on how effectively emerging players like Shetty, George, and Upadhyay adapt to the global stage. If they can push seeded opponents, secure upsets, or even show resilience in close defeats, it will reaffirm that Indian badminton’s next wave is ready to rise. The road ahead is demanding, but Korea offers the perfect platform to prove that India’s depth is no longer a promise it’s a reality in the making.
