Did Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli Shine at the Macau Open?
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Synopsis
In a thrilling day at the Macau Open Super 300, India's badminton stars Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli advanced to the semifinals, while the top doubles team faced an unexpected exit. Discover the highlights of their matches and what lies ahead for these promising athletes!
Key Takeaways
- Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli advanced to the semifinals at the Macau Open.
- Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty faced an unexpected exit.
- Sen displayed resilience after losing the first game to secure his win.
- Mannepalli achieved his first BWF Super 300 semifinal appearance.
- Both players are a testament to India's growing badminton prowess.
Macau, Aug 1 (NationPress) India faced a blend of outcomes at the Macau Open Super 300 badminton tournament on Friday. The premier doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty faced an unexpected defeat, while Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli celebrated their advancement to the semifinals in the men’s singles.
The World No. 3 pair, Satwik and Chirag, regarded as top medal hopefuls, were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the unseeded Malaysian duo of Choong Hon Jian and Haikal Muhammad, losing in straight games with scores of 14-21 and 17-21. The Indian duo struggled to find their rhythm and were unable to recover from early game deficits, leading to an earlier-than-expected exit.
In sharp contrast, Lakshya Sen, the second seed and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, displayed remarkable determination and resilience, securing a hard-fought victory against China’s Xuan Chen Zhu with scores of 18-21, 21-14, and 21-17. The match lasted over an hour, during which Sen faced a tough challenge from the world No. 77. After losing the first game, Lakshya rebounded with aggressive net play and precise smashes to equalize the match.
In the final game, he took an early 7-1 lead and maintained his composure, despite a brief comeback from Chen, ultimately sealing the victory. He is set to compete against fifth seed Alwi Farhan from Indonesia in the semifinals.
Accompanying him in the semifinals is 23-year-old Tharun Mannepalli, who continued his impressive run with a thrilling 21-12, 13-21, 21-18 win over China’s Hu Zhe. Ranked 47th globally, Mannepalli took 75 minutes to overcome the world No. 87 in what marks his debut BWF Super 300 semifinal appearance.
The match featured dramatic shifts in momentum, with the Indian player dominating the first game before Hu made a strong comeback in the second. In the deciding game, Tharun jumped to a 5-0 lead and maintained his composure during a tense finish, winning the match with a clever push to the backhand corner.
Earlier in the tournament, Mannepalli had shocked top seed Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong in the round of 16.
Point of View
It's essential to recognize both the triumphs and challenges faced by our athletes on the global stage. While Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli's victories bring pride, the earlier exit of Satwik and Chirag serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of competitive sports. NationPress stands committed to supporting our athletes and celebrating their achievements.
NationPress
09/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won their matches at the Macau Open?
Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli advanced to the semifinals, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were eliminated.
What was the score of Lakshya Sen's match?
Lakshya Sen won with scores of 18-21, 21-14, and 21-17 against Xuan Chen Zhu from China.
Who will Lakshya Sen face in the semifinals?
Lakshya Sen is set to compete against fifth seed Alwi Farhan from Indonesia.
How did Tharun Mannepalli perform in his match?
Tharun Mannepalli won 21-12, 13-21, and 21-18 against China's Hu Zhe.
What notable upset did Tharun Mannepalli achieve earlier in the tournament?
Tharun Mannepalli shocked top seed Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong in the round of 16.
