Indian badminton’s growing pool of talent found a fresh face to celebrate this week as 23-year-old Tharun Mannepalli scripted a memorable run into his maiden BWF World Tour semifinal at the Macau Open 2025.
Unseeded and ranked 47th in the world, Tharun produced two standout performances first toppling the tournament’s top seed Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong, and then stunning reigning junior world champion Hu Zhe’an of China in the quarterfinals.
For Indian fans, it wasn’t just about the wins themselves, but the manner in which Tharun handled the pressure, drift, and expectations on a big stage traits that often separate promising players from genuine contenders.
A Tournament of Upsets and Breakthroughs
The Macau Open Super 300 has built a reputation as an event where emerging talents announce themselves, and Tharun made sure his name was added to that list. Entering the tournament without a seeding and not among the immediate favourite, the Indian shuttler quietly worked his way through the draw.
His defining moment came in the pre-quarterfinals, where he faced Lee Cheuk Yiu world no.15 and the tournament’s top seed. Despite losing the opening game narrowly at 19-21, Tharun regrouped superbly, showing tactical flexibility and improved rally tolerance. He took the second game 21-14, setting up a tense decider. In the final game, Lee fought back to save match points, but Tharun kept his composure to seal a 22-20 win in what was arguably the biggest victory of his career so far.
Quarterfinal: A Test of Character
If beating Lee was a statement, the quarterfinal against China’s Hu Zhe’an tested Tharun’s mental toughness even more. Hu, who won the World Junior Championship title in 2024, came into the match with confidence and the backing of local fans in Macau.
Tharun started brightly, clinching the first game 21-12 through sharp smashes and well-controlled rallies. But as often happens against a young Chinese player, Hu refused to fade away. He stepped up the aggression and forced Tharun into defensive errors, taking the second game 21-13.
The decider turned into a physical and tactical battle, lasting 75 minutes in total. With the drift now in Hu’s favour after the interval, Tharun’s challenge grew steeper. Yet, this is where he impressed most: instead of over-attacking, he used angles and softer touches to move Hu around, and saved his big smashes for the right moments. At 18-all in the final game, the match could have swung either way, but Tharun dug deep to win three straight points and close it 21-18. His body language throughout calm, purposeful, and unflustered underlined a maturity beyond his years.
Joining Elite Company
With this win, Tharun Mannepalli not only entered his first BWF World Tour semifinal but did so at a Super 300 event a significant achievement for a player yet to consistently break into the world’s top 40. This is also only the second time in the 2025 World Tour calendar that all four men’s singles semifinalists were born after 2000, following the Thailand Masters earlier this year.
The semifinal lineup itself tells a story of a new generation stepping forward: Tharun (born 2001) faces Canada’s Justin (born 2004), while the other semifinal sees Lakshya Sen (born 2001) take on Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan (born 2005). It’s a glimpse into badminton’s fast-changing landscape, where youth and adaptability are driving success.
Macau’s venue is known for its drift, a factor that unsettles even experienced players. Observers praised how Tharun adjusted after the end change in the decider against Hu, showing tactical intelligence to slow down rallies and force Hu to over-hit. Equally striking was how he handled the local crowd cheering for Hu. Instead of letting it rattle him, Tharun stayed locked in, acknowledging points briefly but keeping focus firmly on the shuttle.
Such composure is rare, especially for a player yet to experience many deep runs at this level.
A Week to Remember
For Tharun Mannepalli, the Macau Open 2025 already stands as the highlight of his professional career so far. Entering unseeded, he defeated a top-15 player and the reigning junior world champion, and is now one match away from a maiden World Tour final.
More importantly, this run may unlock new opportunities: higher ranking points, potential sponsorship interest, and a boost in self-belief. Indian badminton has long relied on the exploits of a few names in men’s singles, but Tharun’s rise shows the pipeline of talent is healthy and capable of surprising even the sport’s powerhouses.
Next Stop: The Semifinal
Tharun now faces Malaysia’s Justin, another young player looking for a career-defining moment. Regardless of the result, Tharun has already announced himself to the badminton world. For fans, it’s a fresh storyline in a sport often dominated by familiar names: the rise of an unseeded Indian shuttler who, in one remarkable week, proved he belongs on the big stage.
As Tharun steps onto the court again, there’s one certainty: he’s no longer just a name in the draw he’s a contender.
