Indian shuttlers delivered encouraging results at the Hong Kong Open 2025 (Super 500) with victories for Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
While some players exited in the round of 16, India ensured a strong presence in the quarterfinals. Top Indian men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty recovered from an early setback to beat Thailand’s Supkhun and Teerarat. The Indians dropped the first game 18-21 but regrouped with improved coordination at the net and sharper placement in the rallies. They claimed the next two games 21-15, 21-11 to seal the contest. The win took them into the last eight, keeping alive India’s hopes of a podium finish in doubles. With consistency across tournaments this season, Satwik and Chirag continue to be India’s most reliable pairing on the BWF circuit.
Lakshya Sen beats Prannoy in all-Indian clash
The men’s singles round of 16 saw an all-Indian clash between Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy. Prannoy, the senior campaigner, started stronger, taking the first game 21-15. Lakshya, however, found rhythm in the second game, adjusting his defensive play and counterattacks to edge it 21-18. In the decider, Lakshya dominated proceedings, using sharper angles and faster transitions to race ahead and close the match 21-10. The result ended Prannoy’s campaign but pushed Lakshya into the quarterfinals, where he will test himself against international opposition.
The biggest result of the day for India came from 19-year-old Ayush Shetty, who upset Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in three games. Ayush started positively, taking the first game 21-19 after holding his nerve in the closing rallies. Naraoka responded strongly to claim the second 21-12, shifting momentum in his favour. But Ayush showed composure beyond his age in the decider. Staying patient during long rallies and capitalizing on small openings, he secured the third game 21-14 to complete the win.
This victory over a higher-ranked opponent is one of the most significant results of his young career, marking him as a rising presence in India’s men’s singles lineup.
In another men’s singles tie, Kiran George was outplayed by Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen. The experienced Taiwanese shuttler dictated the tempo from the outset, taking the first game 21-6 and maintaining control in the second to finish 21-12. The defeat ended Kiran’s run in Hong Kong, though the experience adds to his exposure at the Super 500 level, where he continues to seek breakthroughs.
Panda sisters exit in women’s doubles
India’s Swetaparna and Rutuparna Panda faced China’s Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min in the women’s doubles round of 16. The Chinese pair proved too strong, closing out the match in straight games, 21-13, 21-7. The Panda sisters struggled to counter the pace and variations of their opponents, who controlled the rallies throughout. With the loss, India’s campaign in women’s doubles came to an end at this stage.
The round of 16 results showcased both India’s strength in men’s singles and men’s doubles, while underlining areas of challenge in women’s doubles.
- For Satwik and Chirag, the ability to come back after losing the opening game again highlighted their maturity and adaptability. As they move deeper into the tournament, their consistency keeps them among India’s top medal prospects.
- Lakshya Sen’s win over Prannoy was significant in terms of momentum. It demonstrated his ability to step up in pressure matches and sustain energy across three games, an area he has been focusing on in recent seasons.
- Ayush Shetty’s victory was perhaps the standout of the round. At just 19, defeating an opponent of Naraoka’s stature provides not only ranking points but also confidence that he can compete at the highest level. His progress signals the arrival of another potential mainstay in India’s growing singles depth.
- Kiran George’s exit underlined the challenge of bridging the gap against established world-class players. The scoreline reflected the dominance of Chou Tien Chen, but the match experience remains valuable for Kiran’s development.
- For the Panda sisters, competing against higher-ranked pairs remains a learning process. The defeat showed the gap India must close in women’s doubles to be competitive at the global level.
As the Hong Kong Open enters the quarterfinals, India still has three strong contenders:
- Satwik/Chirag in men’s doubles
- Lakshya Sen in men’s singles
- Ayush Shetty in men’s singles
Each faces stiffer tests in the coming rounds, with several top international seeds still in contention. For India, the performances in Hong Kong reflect both encouraging progress and the challenges of sustaining depth across all categories.
Summary of Indian Results – R16
- Men’s Doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty bt Supkhun / Teerarat (Thailand) 18-21, 21-15, 21-11
- Men’s Singles: Lakshya Sen bt HS Prannoy 15-21, 21-18, 21-10
- Men’s Singles: Ayush Shetty bt Kodai Naraoka (Japan) 21-19, 12-21, 21-14
- Men’s Singles: Chou Tien Chen (Chinese Taipei) bt Kiran George 21-6, 21-12
- Women’s Doubles: Li Yi Jing / Luo Xu Min (China) bt Swetaparna Panda / Rutuparna Panda 21-13, 21-7
India’s campaign at the Hong Kong Open Super 500 remains alive with three quarterfinalists, led by the experienced Satwik-Chirag pair and supported by promising singles talents Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty. While exits for Prannoy, Kiran George, and the Panda sisters reflected the challenges of a demanding international field, the standout wins particularly Ayush’s upset of Naraoka added a strong highlight to India’s showing.
The next rounds will reveal whether India can convert these performances into podium finishes, but for now, the balance of results offers both optimism and valuable lessons for the contingent.
