PV Sindhu exits Hong Kong Open HS Prannoy Lakshya Sen win

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Photo:AP

The Hong Kong Open Super 500 badminton tournament witnessed intense action on Wednesday as India’s top players competed in thrilling matches. While two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu faced a shocking early exit in the women’s singles, other Indian shuttlers like HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kiran George, and Ayush Shetty made strong comebacks and advanced to the next stages.

PV Sindhu’s Unexpected Exit

PV Sindhu, who has been one of India’s brightest badminton stars and recently reached the quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships, faced an upset at the hands of unseeded Danish player Line Christophersen. Sindhu lost her round-of-32 match 21-15, 16-21, 19-21, marking her first defeat against Christophersen in six encounters.

The match began with Sindhu taking a strong lead of 3-1 in the first game, but Christophersen quickly equalized at 5-5. Sindhu regained control and led 14-13, then dominated the end of the first game, allowing her opponent only one point, and clinched the opener 21-15.

The second game was more challenging. Sindhu initially led 13-12, but a series of unforced errors allowed Christophersen to gain momentum. Sindhu lost 16-21, making the match level.

The decider was a tense battle, with both players neck-and-neck throughout. Sindhu had a chance to seal the match, but at 19-all, Christophersen grabbed two crucial points to take the game 21-19, ending Sindhu’s campaign. This loss comes after a few early exits this year at tournaments like the Swiss Open and Japan Open, at a time when Sindhu was beginning to regain form.

HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen Shine

While Sindhu struggled, India’s men’s singles players had reasons to cheer. HS Prannoy, ranked 34th in the world, defeated the 14th-ranked Lu Guang Zu of China in straight games, 21-17, 21-14, in 44 minutes. Prannoy played with focus and patience, capitalizing on his opponent’s errors and maintaining control throughout.

Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, one of India’s most promising young shuttlers, opened his campaign with a challenging match. He faced a tough three-game battle and eventually won 22-20, 16-21, 21-15, showcasing resilience and mental strength. This victory ensures that he advances to the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals, keeping India’s hopes alive in the tournament.

Kiran George and Ayush Shetty Also Advance

Other Indian players also delivered impressive performances. Kiran George overcame Singapore’s higher-ranked Jia Heng Jason Teh, winning 21-16, 21-11 in just 34 minutes. George’s consistent smashes and tactical play helped him dominate the match from the beginning, securing a spot in the men’s singles last-16.

Ayush Shetty, world No. 31, faced a tough challenge from Chinese-Taipei’s Su Li Yang. He lost the first game 15-21, fought back to take the second 21-19, and eventually won the decider 21-13. The match lasted slightly over an hour and tested Shetty’s endurance and mental toughness. His victory ensures his place in the last-16 stage, keeping India’s presence strong in the men’s singles draw.

Doubles Action – Mixed Results

India’s doubles teams had mixed results on Wednesday. In women’s doubles, the pair Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda faced Hong Kong’s Oi Ki Vanessa Pang and Sum Yau Wong. The Indian duo won 17-21, 9-21 in 28 minutes, showcasing a strong and aggressive style on the court.

However, in another women’s doubles match, the Chinese Taipei pair Chen Cheng Kuan and Hsu Yin-Hui defeated India’s Dhruv Kapil and Tanisha Crasto 16-21, 11-21 in 31 minutes. Despite fighting hard, Kapil and Crasto could not match their opponents’ coordination and consistency.

Upcoming Matches

Looking ahead, Indian shuttlers have exciting matches lined up:

* Rakshitha Ramraj will face fifth-seeded former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the round-of-32.

* The mixed doubles duo of Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde will take on the second-seeded Chinese pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.

* India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, started strong by defeating Taiwan’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin in the opening round.

Tournament Context

The Hong Kong Open Super 500 is an important tournament on the BWF World Tour, attracting top international players. It provides crucial ranking points and is a key event for players preparing for bigger tournaments later this year. India’s participation is closely followed by fans, especially after successes in recent years, including Sindhu’s Olympic and World Championship performances.

Despite Sindhu’s early exit, India’s men’s singles players, including Prannoy, Sen, George, and Shetty, have shown strong performances and are keeping India’s hopes alive in the tournament. Fans and badminton enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the next rounds to see how India’s top shuttlers perform under pressure.

PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Hong Kong Open 2025