India’s next generation of badminton talent announced itself in emphatic fashion on the opening day of the main draw at the Odisha Masters 2025, producing a string of eye-catching victories and high-profile upsets at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.
Rounak Chouhan, Isharani Baruah and Tasnim Mir led the charge with composed and fearless performances, while established youngsters like Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma and Kiran George moved assuredly into the next round.
The standout result of the day belonged to Rounak Chouhan, a member of India’s historic medal-winning squad at the World Junior Championships. The teenager showed remarkable maturity to outlast third seed Jason Gunawan, the reigning Syed Modi International champion, in a gripping first-round contest that lasted 64 minutes. After conceding the opening game 15-21, Rounak adjusted his angles and controlled the rallies better to take the next two games 21-17, 21-19. It was a statement win that underlined his growing confidence on the senior circuit.
He will next face fellow Indian Varun Kapur, who edged past UAE’s Bharath Latheesh 21-16, 16-21, 21-19 in another closely contested battle.
Top-seeded Indian men also made light work of their opening assignments. Tharun Mannepalli, who received a first-round bye, wasted little time announcing his intent as he powered past Manav Choudhary 21-5, 21-8 in just 27 minutes. The Hyderabad shuttler displayed sharp movement and relentless attacking play and will now meet Govind Krishna, who defeated Kavin Thangam Kavin in three games.
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Second seed Kiran George, returning from injury concerns earlier in the season, looked increasingly assured as he registered a straightforward 21-12, 21-13 win over Rajesh Srikar and set up a pre-quarterfinal clash with Indonesia’s Dendi Triansyah.
The women’s singles draw delivered arguably the biggest shock of the day. Isharani Baruah, the 21-year-old from Assam, stunned second seed Pornpicha Choeikeewong of Thailand with a dominant 21-15, 21-8 victory in just 32 minutes. Isharani controlled the pace superbly, forcing errors from the Thai star while dictating rallies with her precision from the backcourt. Later, she progressed directly into the quarterfinals after receiving a walkover in the round of 16, capping a memorable day for the young Indian.
Top seed Unnati Hooda began her campaign in professional fashion, getting past UAE’s Prakriti Bharath 21-12, 21-18. While not at her fluent best throughout, Unnati handled key moments well to avoid a potential upset. She will face Thailand’s Tidapron Kleebyeesun next, after the Thai shuttler eliminated Bulgaria’s Stefani Stoeva in straight games. Third seed Tanvi Sharma was made to work hard by Japan’s Anna Iwaki, but the Indian fought through a fluctuating contest to win 21-8, 17-21, 21-18. Tanvi’s resilience under pressure stood out, and she will now take on compatriot Aditi Bhatt, who edged out Liang Ka Wing in two tight games.
Another highlight came from Tasnim Mir, who continued her reputation as a dangerous floater by ousting fourth seed Rakshitha Sree. After dropping the first game 17-21, Tasnim regrouped impressively, tightening her net control and stepping up the aggression to take the match 21-17, 21-13. The win propelled her into the pre-quarterfinals and further strengthened India’s presence deep in the draw.
Former Arctic Open semifinalist Anmol Kharb added to the day’s positive results with a gritty comeback win over Thailand’s Yataweemin Ketklieng. The 18-year-old dropped the opening game 17-21 but showed steely nerves to clinch the second 21-19 before saving match points to edge the decider 23-21 in a marathon 68-minute contest. Her next challenge will be against Japan’s Shiori Ebihara, another stern test of her rising credentials.
With several Indian players already booking their places in the latter stages, Day 1 of the Odisha Masters set the tone for an exciting week ahead. The depth across both men’s and women’s draws suggests India could have a significant presence deep into the tournament.
As action continues in Cuttack, the focus will remain firmly on how far this talented young contingent can go in the race for the USD 110,000 Super 100 title.
