Did Lakshya and Satwik-Chirag Exit the Japan Open Early?
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Synopsis
In a stunning turn of events at the Japan Open, India's badminton stars faced early exits. With Lakshya Sen and the men's doubles team of Satwik-Chirag knocked out in the Round of 16, all eyes are now on Anupama Upadhyaya as she fights for glory in the women's singles. Can she keep the Indian hopes alive?
Key Takeaways
- Lakshya Sen and the men’s doubles team were eliminated in the Round of 16.
- Anupama Upadhyaya is the only remaining Indian hope in the tournament.
- The competition level is fierce at the Japan Open.
- PV Sindhu continues to struggle with early exits.
- Indian badminton faces challenges but remains resilient.
Shibuya (Japan), July 17 (NationPress) India's Lakshya Sen and the men’s doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty faced early exits in the Round of 16 at the Japan Open, a prestigious BWF Super 750 badminton tournament, held here on Thursday.
Sen fell to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka with scores of 19-21, 11-21 in straight games, while Satwik and Chirag encountered a tough challenge against China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, losing 22-24, 14-21.
The Indian campaign suffered a significant blow with these defeats, especially after prominent athletes like HS Prannoy and PV Sindhu had already exited in the first round. The spotlight now shifts to Anupama Upadhyaya, the last remaining Indian competitor, who is gearing up to face Wang Zhi Yi from China in the women’s singles Round of 16 later today.
World No. 18 Lakshya, who secured a fourth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics, had a strong performance against China’s Wang Zheng Xing, winning 21-11, 21-18 to reach the second round. Meanwhile, Satwik and Chirag overcame South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Ki Dong Ju with a score of 21-18, 21-10 in their first-round match.
In the opening round, Sindhu was defeated 21-15, 21-14 by South Korea's world No. 14 Sim Yu Jin in just 38 minutes, marking her first loss to Sim in four encounters.
This early exit for Sindhu adds to a challenging 2025 BWF World Tour season, where her best performance so far has been a quarter-final finish at the India Open in January, followed by four first-round eliminations and two Round of 16 finishes.
Earlier in the tournament, Unnati Hooda lost to Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-8, 21-12 in the first round. The men’s doubles team of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi also faced defeat against South Korea's Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae with scores of 21-15, 21-9.
In women’s doubles, the duo of Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi were defeated 21-6, 21-15 by Hong Kong China's Lui Lok Lok and Tsang Hiu Yan. Additionally, Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda were eliminated from women’s doubles after losing to the Japanese team of Kokona Ishikawa and Maiko Kawazoe 21-13, 21-7 on Tuesday.
Point of View
It is vital to acknowledge the resilience and talent of our athletes. Despite the early exits of Lakshya Sen and the men's doubles team, the spirit of Indian badminton remains strong, and we look forward to Anupama Upadhyaya's performance. This tournament highlights the challenges our players face on the global stage, reminding us of the fierce competition that lies ahead.
NationPress
17/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Indian players eliminated in the Japan Open?
Lakshya Sen and the men's doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were eliminated in the Round of 16.
How did Lakshya Sen perform in his match?
Lakshya Sen lost to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka with scores of 19-21, 11-21.
Who is the only remaining Indian player in the tournament?
Anupama Upadhyaya is the last remaining Indian player, facing China's Wang Zhi Yi.
What has been PV Sindhu's performance in the tournament?
PV Sindhu exited the tournament in the first round after losing to South Korea's Sim Yu Jin.
What challenges have Indian players faced this season?
Many Indian players, including Sindhu, have had early exits, indicating a tough season in the 2025 BWF World Tour.
