For Indian badminton, the year 2025 has already offered several inspiring stories, but few have been as striking as Tharun Mannepalli’s remarkable run at the Macau Open.
Stepping onto the World Tour with quiet determination, Tharun didn’t just add wins to his record he showcased resilience, composure, and the ability to challenge some of the sport’s rising and established names.
A Journey Marked by Grit and Breakthroughs
The Macau Open turned out to be the stage where Tharun Mannepalli achieved what many Indian fans had hoped to see for years: a young player breaking into the elite bracket of the World Tour. Entering the tournament unseeded and carrying limited expectations beyond the first round, Tharun charted a course that brought him all the way to his first career semifinal on the BWF World Tour.
Round of 32:
Facing his compatriot Manraj Singh (WR71), Tharun played with confidence, keeping rallies short and dictating play with precision. He sealed the match 21-19, 21-13—an important opening win that set the tone for what followed.
Round of 16:
Next up was an enormous test against Lee Cheuk Yiu, the tournament’s top seed and World No.15. Few expected Tharun to pull off an upset, but what unfolded was a three-game thriller. Despite losing the opening game 19-21, Tharun kept composure to claim the next two, 21-14 and 22-20. This victory was historic—not only his first over a top 20 opponent, but also making him only the third Indian men’s singles player in 2025 to defeat a tournament top seed in a World Tour event.
Before him, only Ayush Shetty (who beat Chou Tien Chen at the US Open) and Kidambi Srikanth (who beat Chou Tien Chen at the Canada Open) had achieved that feat this season.
Quarterfinal:
In the last eight, Tharun faced China’s Hu Zhe An, the reigning Junior World Champion. Once again, he refused to be overawed. After a dip in the second game, Tharun controlled the decider to win 21-12, 13-21, 21-18 a statement win that highlighted both skill and resilience.
Semifinal:
The dream run came to an end against Malaysia’s Hoh Justin (WR45), a player with deep junior pedigree as a former World Junior No.1. Tharun started strong, taking the first game 21-19. But the Malaysian’s experience and attacking flair eventually proved decisive, and Tharun bowed out with a 21-19, 16-21, 16-21 loss.
Numbers That Tell the Story
Beyond the results, Tharun’s week in Macau is marked by milestones worth celebrating:
- First-ever career semifinal on the BWF World Tour a breakthrough that signals his arrival on the bigger stage.
- Live ranking jump to No.40, a climb of seven spots, establishing him firmly inside the top 50.
- Currently, he becomes India’s No.5 in men’s singles, a big statement in a field dominated by familiar names like Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, and Priyanshu Rajawat.
- With 8 match wins in the 2025 World Tour season so far, Tharun is showing signs of consistency beyond a single event—a quality often missing among rising players.
- His victory over Lee Cheuk Yiu as the tournament’s top seed also places him among an exclusive club of Indians who have toppled seeded players at major World Tour events this year.
Beyond Stats: Why This Matters
Indian badminton is at a transitional phase. While the established stars continue to fight at the top level, the next generation has struggled to break through consistently at the senior World Tour level. Tharun Mannepalli’s performance in Macau matters because it is not just about one lucky run it reflects an ability to hold nerves against seasoned players, adapt tactically mid-match, and most importantly, close out deciders.
In modern badminton, this mental side of the game is often what separates a promising talent from a consistent winner. Tharun’s come-from-behind win over Lee Cheuk Yiu in a final game thriller, and his composed performance against Hu Zhe An, underline that he possesses this rare quality.
Tharun’s steady climb also comes at a time when India needs fresh names in men’s singles. As of now, Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy remain the leading faces, with Kidambi Srikanth fighting for form and Priyanshu Rajawat making occasional deep runs. By moving to World No.40, Tharun not only becomes a direct entry contender for higher-tier World Tour events but also brings depth to India’s team options, whether for the Thomas Cup or other team championships.
Learning from Defeat
The semifinal loss to Hoh Justin should also serve as an important lesson. After starting strongly, Tharun lost rhythm midway through the second game and couldn’t regain control in the decider. It’s the kind of experience that can only come through repeated appearances in the latter stages of tournaments and now, having reached this stage once, Tharun will know what it takes to finish the job next time.
With a live ranking of 40 and counting, the next phase of Tharun’s journey will bring tougher challenges: main draws packed with higher-ranked players, tighter schedules, and the pressure to defend points and ranking. But if Macau is any indication, he is ready to test himself further.
For Indian badminton fans, the hope is that this run won’t remain a solitary highlight in his career, but rather the start of sustained performances on the World Tour.
A Moment to Celebrate
In a season where India’s men’s singles contingent has had mixed results, Tharun Mannepalli has brought back excitement. His game combines attacking flair with surprising calmness for a player so early in his senior career. Most importantly, he showed he belongs on the same court as top 20 opponents and sometimes, can walk away with the win.
As the World Tour moves forward, Tharun will aim for more semifinals, maybe finals, and eventually, titles. But regardless of what comes next, the Macau Open 2025 will always be remembered as the week when Tharun Mannepalli announced himself to the world.
