What Happened to Naishaa Bhatoye at the BWF Japan Masters?
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Synopsis
India's Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye faced an early exit at the BWF Japan Masters 2025, losing her qualifying match to New Zealand's Shaunna Li. With the women's singles left without major Indian representation, all eyes now turn to the men's singles, where Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy look to make their mark.
Key Takeaways
- Naishaa Bhatoye faced a tough loss in the qualifiers.
- Shaunna Li won in straight games.
- Naishaa was the only Indian in women's singles.
- Focus shifts to Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy in men's singles.
- Sen aims for a spot in BWF World Tour Finals.
Mumbai, Nov 11 (NationPress) India’s Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye has been eliminated from the qualifying rounds of the BWF Japan Masters 2025, suffering a first-round defeat against Shaunna Li of New Zealand in straight games at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium, located in Kumamoto, Japan, on Tuesday.
Naishaa, who portrayed a young Saina Nehwal in the acclaimed Bollywood biopic Saina, has only participated in two BWF Super 100 senior tournaments. She lost her match to Shaunna Li with scores of 21-17, 21-18 in just 32 minutes. She was the only Indian competitor in the women's singles category of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 500 event.
Naishaa was the sole Indian representative in the women’s draw due to the absence of two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who has concluded her season due to an injury, along with Anmol Kharb, Tanya Hemanth, and Shriyanshi Valishetty, who also withdrew from the tournament.
The focus of Indian fans will now transition to the men’s singles segment of the event, led by Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy.
Paris Olympic Games semifinalist Sen will commence his campaign against local star Koki Watanabe, while Prannoy is set to face Leong Jun Hao from Malaysia in his first-round match at this prestigious BWF World Tour Super 500 event held at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.
While Lakshya aims to enhance his chances of qualifying for the BWF World Tour Finals, this will mark World Championship bronze medallist Prannoy’s first competitive match since his injury during the Korea Open in September.
The 33-year-old Prannoy has faced a challenging 2025 season, failing to progress beyond the second round in any of his 14 BWF World Tour appearances, with eight of those resulting in first-round exits.
Sen, who missed last week’s Korea Masters, is looking for a strong performance at the Kumamoto venue this week to bolster his bid for a spot in the season-ending World Tour Finals.
Currently ranked 13th in the Race to Finals rankings, Sen remains the only Indian singles player with a feasible chance of qualifying for the tournament, which features the top eight players and doubles teams competing for yearly honours.
A successful run at the Japan Masters could provide Sen with essential ranking points to elevate his standing and improve his chances of qualifying for the season-ender.
Sen has had a mixed season, with several early exits balanced by a few quarterfinal and semifinal finishes, including a runner-up position at the Hong Kong Open.
Ayush Shetty, the only Indian to secure a BWF title this year with his victory at the US Open, is also participating in the men’s singles draw in Japan, alongside Kiran George and Tharun Mannepalli.
Point of View
The performance of Indian badminton players at the BWF Japan Masters highlights both the challenges and the potential within the sport. Naishaa Bhatoye's exit underscores the need for greater support and development opportunities for emerging talents, while the focus on seasoned players like Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy offers hope for future successes.
NationPress
17/01/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Naishaa Bhatoye lose to at the BWF Japan Masters?
Naishaa Bhatoye lost to Shaunna Li of New Zealand in the first round.
What were the scores of Naishaa's match?
Naishaa lost in straight games with scores of 21-17, 21-18.
Who are the Indian players competing in the men's singles?
Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy are leading the Indian men's singles challenge.
What is the significance of the BWF Japan Masters?
The BWF Japan Masters is a prestigious Super 500 event that contributes to players' rankings and qualifications for the season-ending finals.
What challenges has Prannoy faced in his recent tournaments?
Prannoy has struggled in 2025, failing to reach past the second round in any of his 14 appearances.
