The Hylo Open 2025 turned out to be a mixed bag for Indian badminton fans one that began with heartbreaks in the men’s singles but ended with a ray of hope, courtesy of a fearless 18-year-old from Rohtak, Unnati Hooda.
While all three Indian men Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Kiran George bowed out in the quarterfinals after close, hard-fought battles, Unnati produced a stunning performance to storm into her first-ever Super 500 semifinal, keeping India’s campaign alive in Saarbrücken.
India’s top men’s singles player Lakshya Sen (WR 17) faced France’s in-form Alex Lanier (WR 8) in one of the most anticipated quarterfinal clashes. The match lived up to its billing, offering a fast-paced display of tactical precision and court coverage. Lanier, who has been in red-hot form this season, took the opening game 21-17 after dominating the mid-phase rallies. Lakshya, however, showed immense grit to claw back in the second, winning 21-14 after trailing 1-5 and 5-8 early on. It was a glimpse of the All England semifinalist at his best fast on his feet, sharp at the net, and aggressive from the backcourt.
The decider, however, slipped away narrowly. Lanier’s consistency and deep clears forced a few unforced errors from the Indian, and the Frenchman closed out the match 21-17, 14-21, 21-15 to advance to the semifinals. Despite the defeat, Lakshya’s improved rhythm and fighting display were positives heading into the closing stretch of the BWF season.
Ayush Shetty loses a thriller but earns respect
If there was one match that defined courage, it was Ayush Shetty’s narrow loss to Kalle Koljonen (FIN). Ranked 31st in the world, the 20-year-old Indian nearly scripted an upset against the world No. 55 in a dramatic three-game battle that lasted nearly an hour. After dropping the first game 19-21, Ayush stormed back with a commanding 21-12 second game, using his steep smashes and clever change of pace to control rallies. The decider was a rollercoaster Ayush trailed 11-15 and 12-17 before launching a spectacular comeback to lead 20-18. But nerves crept in at the crucial moment, and Koljonen used all his experience to snatch the next four points and seal it 22-20.
It was a heartbreaking end for the young Indian, but his composure and fighting spirit earned widespread praise. As one of India’s brightest prospects on the European circuit, Ayush continues to grow in maturity and confidence.
In another men’s singles quarterfinal, Kiran George couldn’t overcome the challenge of Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, going down 10-21, 16-21. The Indian never quite found his attacking rhythm against the second seed, who dictated the tempo throughout. Meanwhile, Rakshitha Sree Ramraj, another teenage talent from India, bowed out in the women’s singles quarterfinals after losing 7-21, 19-21 to Denmark’s Line Christophersen (WR 26). The 18-year-old showed promise in the second game, pushing the higher-ranked Dane hard before falling short.
Despite the loss, Rakshitha’s quarterfinal run her first at a Super 500 is a milestone moment in her young career.
Unnati Hooda: India’s lone warrior shines bright
With the men’s singles campaign ending in disappointment, it was Unnati Hooda who carried India’s hopes into the semifinals. The 18-year-old, ranked No. 34, delivered a sensational performance to knock out 4th seed Lin Hsiang Ti (WR 24) from Chinese Taipei in straight games 22-20, 21-13.
What made the victory even more remarkable was her composure under pressure. Unnati trailed 16-19 in the first game but displayed extraordinary resilience to save multiple game points and take the opener 22-20. From there, she completely dominated the second game with sharp net play and precise shot placement to seal the win in just 38 minutes. This win was particularly special for Unnati she had lost to Lin earlier this year at the Malaysia Masters, making this victory a sweet revenge and a statement of her growth on the BWF circuit.
The triumph marks Unnati’s third semifinal appearance of 2025, but more importantly, her first-ever at a Super 500 event, making her the youngest Indian to reach that stage in recent years.
Her heroics in Germany didn’t just bring India a semifinal spot they also propelled her up the world rankings. With her semifinal run, Unnati jumps six places to WR 28, becoming India’s No. 2 women’s singles player, only behind PV Sindhu. That’s a remarkable achievement for someone who only turned 18 last month. From winning the medal at Asian U15 Championships to now battling against the world’s top-30 at Super 500 level, Unnati’s rise has been meteoric. She now faces either Putri Kusuma Wardani (WR 7) a tough challenge, but one that the young Indian will embrace with confidence.
Despite the men’s singles exits, the Hylo Open 2025 offered several positives for India. Lakshya Sen looked sharper and competitive against top opposition, Ayush Shetty showed remarkable maturity under pressure, and Unnati Hooda’s breakthrough semifinal run highlighted the depth and promise in India’s new generation of shuttlers. It’s been a tournament of mixed emotions heartbreak for the men, but hope for the women. As the season winds down, Unnati’s fearless run in Saarbrücken ensures Indian badminton’s future continues to shine bright.
Summary:
🇮🇳 Lakshya Sen – lost to Alex Lanier 🇫🇷 17-21, 21-14, 15-21
🇮🇳 Ayush Shetty – lost to Kalle Koljonen 🇫🇮 19-21, 21-12, 20-22
🇮🇳 Kiran George – lost to Jonatan Christie 🇮🇩 10-21, 16-21
🇮🇳 Rakshitha Sree – lost to Line Christophersen 🇩🇰 7-21, 19-21
🇮🇳 Unnati Hooda – def. Lin Hsiang Ti 🇹🇼 22-20, 21-13 ✅ (Into SF)
Unnati stands tall as India’s lone semifinalist a teenager rewriting history one match at a time.
