Bhubaneswar : At the Macau Open 2025 badminton tournament held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, Indian shuttlers delivered impressive performances, with the men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with singles players Lakshya Sen and Tharun Mannepalli, advancing to the quarterfinal stage.
The second-seeded pair Satwik-Chirag maintained their strong form, cruising through their matches and consolidating their position as serious title contenders. Their experience and synergy on court were evident as they comfortably secured wins in the earlier rounds to reach the last eight.
In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen, fresh off a commendable showing at Paris 2024, faced a tough challenge from Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo, ranked 48th globally. Lakshya held his nerve over a grueling three-game battle that lasted more than an hour, eventually prevailing 21-14, 14-21, 21-17. His tactical discipline and stamina stood out as he managed to clinch the decider and progress further in the tournament.
The day’s biggest upset came from Tharun Mannepalli, ranked 47th, who overcame the top seed Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong, world number 15, in a thrilling match. After dropping the first game 19-21, Tharun showed remarkable resilience to win the second 21-14 and then narrowly edged the final game 22-20. This victory marked a significant milestone for Tharun, signifying his growing stature in international badminton.
On the other hand, some Indian participants faced setbacks. Ayush Shetty was defeated in straight games by Malaysia’s Justin Hoh, and the mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, seeded fifth, were knocked out after a close three-game encounter with a Malaysian pair. Additionally, women’s singles player Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj also exited the competition earlier.
With three Indians now in the quarterfinals, especially the highly ranked Satwik-Chirag duo and promising singles players, India’s prospects remain bright as the tournament progresses. The coming rounds will test their resilience and skill further as they aim for podium finishes in this prestigious Super 300 event with $370,000 prize money.
The tournament continues to showcase emerging Indian talent alongside established stars, further cementing India’s rising profile in the world badminton arena.
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