India’s campaign at the Hylo Open 2025 began on a blazing note as Lakshya Sen, Sankar Subramanian Muthusamy, Ayush Shetty, and Kiran George all entered the men’s singles Round of 16, while the mixed doubles pair Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde also advanced with a commanding win.
It was a near-perfect day for India, with five victories all against higher-ranked opponents marking one of the country’s best collective opening rounds at a European BWF Super 300.
Lakshya Sen Stuns World No.7 Christo Popov to Storm into HYLO Open 2025 Round of 16
Lakshya Sen showed his class and composure to defeat World No. 7 Christo Popov 21-16, 22-20 in a high-intensity encounter. The 24-year-old Indian trailed 17-20 in the second game before saving three game points and reeling off five straight to clinch the win. This victory over the French Open finalist not only reinforces Lakshya’s return to top form but also sets up a much-anticipated all-Indian pre-quarterfinal clash against Sankar Subramanian Muthusamy.
Sankar Subramanian Topples World No. 22 Leong Jun Hao
Left-hander Sankar Subramanian continued his resurgence with a gritty 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 win over Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, ranked 22 in the world. Sankar displayed excellent defensive anticipation, forcing long rallies before attacking with precision. The victory adds to his growing list of upsets this year, following strong performances in Taipei and Hong Kong. His next test against Lakshya Sen promises to be one of the matches of the tournament, with both players looking to secure an Indian quarterfinal spot.
Teenager Ayush Shetty continued his impressive progression with a three-game win over Viktor Lai of Canada, a World Championships bronze medallist. Ayush started brilliantly, taking the first game 21-11, before a lapse saw him drop the second 4-21. But he regrouped superbly to close out the decider 21-18.
The 19-year-old from Bengaluru has been India’s breakout player of the season, and his tactical maturity in the closing stages highlighted the confidence he has built on the senior circuit.
Kiran George Outplays Kidambi Srikanth
In an all-Indian contest, Kiran George produced a sharp and attacking performance to beat veteran Kidambi Srikanth 21-19, 21-11. The Kerala shuttler’s fast-paced offense and tight net control proved too much for Srikanth, who failed to find rhythm.
The win takes Kiran into the last 16, where he will face France’s Toma Junior Popov, who defeated Gemke Rasmus earlier in the day.
India’s mixed doubles duo Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde impressed with a comfortable 21-18, 21-13 win over Canada’s Jonathan Lai and Crystal Lai. The pair showed excellent chemistry and control in mid-court exchanges, consistently forcing their opponents into errors.
Their next test, however, will be considerably tougher a Round of 16 clash against Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje
Elsewhere, Pruthvi Roy and Sai Pratheek bowed out to the Popov brothers 15-21, 18-21 in men’s doubles, while Tharun lost 11-21, 12-21 to World No. 5 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia. Despite those setbacks, India’s overall performance reflected excellent depth across singles and doubles.
Indian Results Summary Hylo Open 2025
Advanced to Round of 16:
•Lakshya Sen def. Christo Popov 🇫🇷 21-16, 22-20
•Sankar Subramanian Muthusamy def. Leong Jun Hao 🇲🇾 21-14, 18-21, 21-16
•Ayush Shetty def. Viktor Lai 🇨🇦 21-11, 4-21, 21-18
•Kiran George def. Srikanth Kidambi 🇮🇳 21-19, 21-11
•Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Shivani Gadde def. Jonathan Lai / Crystal Lai 🇨🇦 21-18, 21-13
Lost in Round of 32:
•Pruthvi Roy / Sai Pratheek lost to Popov brothers 🇫🇷 15-21, 18-21
•Tharun lost to Jonatan Christie 🇮🇩 11-21, 12-21
Upcoming Indian Matches – Round of 16
•Lakshya Sen vs. Sankar Subramanian Muthusamy (India)
•Ayush Shetty vs. Loh Kean Yew (Singapore)
•Kiran George vs. Toma Junior Popov (France)
•Rohan Kapoor / Ruthvika Shivani Gadde vs. Mathias Christiansen / Alexandra Bøje (Denmark)
With four Indian men and one mixed doubles pair through to the last 16, India’s contingent has made a powerful statement at the Hylo Open 2025.
Lakshya’s resurgence, Sankar’s maturity, and Ayush’s breakthrough performances underline a new era of consistency for Indian badminton on the world stage.
