Badminton
Japan Open 2025: Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya Sen win, Sindhu exits – Highlights
Catch all the highlights from the first round of 2025 Japan Open Super 750.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. (Photo credit: Jio Cinema)
Top Indian shuttlers, including the likes of former badminton world No. 1 men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, world championships medallist Lakshya Sen, double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, and others, opened their campaign at the 2025 Japan Open Super 750 on Wednesday.
Satwik-Chirag were the first of the seven Indian shuttlers/pairs in action on the second day of the competition, when they went up against South Korea's Kang Min Hyuk and Ki Dong Ju.
As it happened:
Live Updates
- 16 July 2025 12:27 PM GMT
Hariharan-Ruban and Selvam-Singhi bow out in the first round
Indian men's doubles duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasbapathi were knocked out in the first round of the Japan Open, losing in straight games to third-seeded Korean pair of Kim and Seo.
Final Score: Harihan-Ruban (IND) 15-21, 9-21 Kim-Seo (KOR)
Later, the Indian women's doubles duo of Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam also faced a first-round exit, losing to the Hong Kong Pair of Lui Lok Lok and Hiu Yan Tsang in straight games.
Final Score: Selvam-Singhi (IND) 6-21, 5-21 Lui-Tsang (HKG)
- 16 July 2025 9:44 AM GMT
Anupama Upadhyaya beats Rakshitha Ramraj in a nail-biting three-game thriller
In an All-Indian women's singles first-round match, the former national champion Anupama Upadhyaya got the better of her younger compatriot Rakshitha Sree Santosh Ramraj in a tense three-game encounter.
Rakshtha forced Anupama to a decider but was eventually edged past Anupama, who has now progressed to the second round of the competition.
Final Score: Anupama Upadhyaya 21-15, 18-21, 21-18 Rakshitha Sree Ramraj
- 16 July 2025 7:08 AM GMT
First Round exit for Unnati Hooda
Indian youngster Unnati Hooda faced a first-round exit at the Japan Open, losing in straight games to world no.7 Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand.
Unnati showed a better defense in the second game, but it wasn't enough for her to challenge the experienced Pornpawee, who closed the match comfortably without much pressure.
Final Score: Unnati Hooda (IND) 8-21, 12-21 Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA)
- 16 July 2025 6:47 AM GMT
Chochuwong dominates the opening game to gain an early advantage in the match
Game-1: Unnati Hooda (IND) 8-21 Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA)
Pornpawee shifted the gears post the mid-game break and just outclassed Unnati in the opening game, who was able to score just 2 points post the interval.
- 16 July 2025 6:40 AM GMT
Chocuwong takes a big lead at the first mid-game interval
Game-1: Unnati Hooda (IND) 6-11 Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA)
Unnati could not offer much challenge in the first half of the opening game as the Thai shuttler used her height to play accurate cross-court drop shots, forcing Unnati to run all around the court.
- 16 July 2025 6:20 AM GMT
Up Next: WS - Unnati Hooda (IND) Vs Pornpawee Chochuwong (THA)
This will be the second meeting between the two players after the Thailand Open 2025, where the experienced Pornpawee got the better of young Indian shuttler in straight games, 21-14, 21-11.
- 16 July 2025 5:23 AM GMT
PV Sindhu bows out
An early exit for PV Sindhu, whose struggles continue to rise. The former world champion is outplayed by Sim Yu Jin, losing 15-21, 14-21 in 38 minutes.
This is Sindhu's first loss against the South Korean after four encounters.
