Indian badminton stars delivered a stellar performance at the Hong Kong Open 2025 Super 500 tournament, with Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advancing to the quarterfinals.
Lakshya Sen, ranked 20th in the world, overcame compatriot HS Prannoy in a thrilling three-game battle (15-21, 21-18, 21-10). This marks Lakshya’s first quarterfinal appearance in a top-tier BWF event in six months, signaling a strong comeback after a season marred by injuries and inconsistent form.
In a major upset, 20-year-old Ayush Shetty stunned Japan’s Kodai Naraoka, the 2023 World Championships silver medallist, with a 21-19, 12-21, 21-14 victory. Ayush, who won the US Open Super 300 in June, will now face Lakshya in an all-Indian quarterfinal clash.
Meanwhile, Satwik and Chirag, seeded eighth, bounced back from a first-game loss to defeat Thailand’s Sukphun and Teeraratsakul 18-21, 21-15, 21-11. The world No. 9 duo, fresh off their World Championships bronze in Paris, will next face Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap.
The Indian contingent’s strong showing has raised hopes for podium finishes as the tournament progresses.
