What Happened at the Thailand Open? Lakshya Sen Exits Early While Aakarshi and Unnati Move Forward
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Synopsis
India's performance at the Thailand Open reveals both triumph and disappointment. While Lakshya Sen faced an unexpected defeat, Aakarshi Kashyap and Unnati Hooda showcased remarkable resilience to secure their spots in the second round. Discover how the tournament unfolded and what lies ahead for these talented athletes.
Key Takeaways
- Lakshya Sen faced a surprising elimination in the first round.
- Aakarshi Kashyap and Unnati Hooda both advanced to the second round.
- Priyanshu Rajawat also exited after a close match.
- Kidambi Srikanth failed to qualify for the main draw.
- Resilience shown by younger players indicates a bright future for Indian badminton.
Bangkok, May 14 (NationPress) India’s journey at the Thailand Open, a prestigious BWF Super 500 tournament, began on a mixed note on Wednesday. In a surprising turn of events, top men’s singles player Lakshya Sen faced an early exit in the first round, while Aakarshi Kashyap and Unnati Hooda fought their way into the second round following intense battles in women’s singles.
In a shocking twist, Lakshya Sen was eliminated by Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen in a gripping three-game match that spanned 1 hour and 20 minutes. Ranked highly among India’s badminton prospects, Sen lost with scores of 18-21, 21-9, 17-21 in a contest filled with momentum shifts.
After a narrow defeat in the first game, Sen came back strong in the second, showcasing powerful smashes and fast-paced rallies to level the match. However, Nguyen displayed resilience in the deciding game, leading 17-13 and maintaining his composure during critical moments to secure the upset and advance.
The challenges for India’s men’s singles continued as Priyanshu Rajawat also exited the tournament, narrowly losing in another three-game contest with a score of 13-21, 21-17, 16-21 to Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan.
Earlier, former world no.1 Kidambi Srikanth faced disappointment by failing to qualify for the main draw of the Thailand Open 2025 badminton tournament after his second match loss in the qualifiers on Tuesday.
Srikanth, a silver medallist at the world championships, initially triumphed over Sankar Subramanian 21-15, 21-17 in the first round of qualifiers but fell short against Tharun Mannepalli 21-16, 21-19 in the second.
In the women’s singles, Aakarshi engaged in a thrilling duel against Japan’s Kaoru Sugiyama, ultimately winning 21-16, 20-22, 22-20 in a roller-coaster encounter. Unnati, a promising figure in Indian badminton, showcased her talent by defeating local favorite Thamonwan Nithiittikrai 21-14, 18-21, 23-21.
After securing the first game comfortably, Unnati saw her opponent fight back in the second. However, in a dramatic third game, the young athlete saved match points before clinching a thrilling victory in extra points.
Unfortunately, the day concluded with disappointment for Rakshitha Ramraj, who faced a formidable opponent in eighth seed Yeo Jia Min from Singapore. Rakshitha began strongly, putting up a tough fight in the first game, but ultimately fell 18-21, 7-21.
Point of View
It is clear that while the results from the Thailand Open are disappointing for some players, the resilience shown by Aakarshi and Unnati is commendable. Their advancement reflects the depth of talent in Indian badminton and gives us hope for future competitions. The journey continues, and we remain supportive of all our athletes.
NationPress
21/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Indian players in action at the Thailand Open?
The Indian players included Lakshya Sen, Aakarshi Kashyap, Unnati Hooda, Priyanshu Rajawat, Kidambi Srikanth, and Rakshitha Ramraj.
What was the outcome for Lakshya Sen at the tournament?
Lakshya Sen was eliminated in the opening round after a tough three-game match against Ireland's Nhat Nguyen.
How did Aakarshi Kashyap perform?
Aakarshi Kashyap advanced to the second round after winning a thrilling match against Japan's Kaoru Sugiyama.
What challenges did Priyanshu Rajawat face?
Priyanshu Rajawat also exited the tournament after losing in another close match against Indonesia's Alwi Farhan.
What was the fate of Kidambi Srikanth?
Kidambi Srikanth could not qualify for the main round after losing his second match in the qualifiers.
