The hopes of Indian badminton fans were dashed on Saturday as the men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty suffered a setback in the semifinals of the India Open 2025.
The pair, who had been recovering from Satwik’s injury, went down in straight games to Malaysia’s world no. 2 combination of Nur Izzuddin and Goh Sze Fei at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi.
In a match lasting just 37 minutes, the Malaysian duo triumphed 21-18, 21-14, ending India’s challenge in the prestigious World Tour Super 750 event.
The Indian pair had started with promising energy, taking an early lead in the first game. However, they couldn’t sustain their momentum, and Izzuddin and Goh capitalised on the opportunity, clinching seven consecutive points and taking the opening game.
The Indians, ranked 9th in the world, came into the match with confidence, having reached the semifinals of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 the previous week.
But despite a good start, their opponents’ strong attack, particularly at the net, caused them to falter in crucial moments. With the second game slipping away from them, the Indians were unable to recover, and the Malaysians wrapped up the match.
Looking ahead, Izzuddin and Goh will face Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, who overcame Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the other men’s doubles semifinal. The Malaysians fought hard but couldn’t clinch the victory, as Kim and Seo claimed the match 22-20, 21-19.
While the Indian men’s doubles duo’s journey ended in the semifinals, there were still plenty of exciting moments in other categories. In women’s singles, Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong staged a remarkable comeback in her semifinal match against Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki.
Chochuwong had lost the first game but showed great determination in the second game, coming back from a 14-19 deficit to force a decider. After saving three match points, she showed composure in the final game to win 11-21, 24-22, 21-19, securing her place in the final.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s An Se Young, the top seed in the women’s singles, defeated Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in a controlled 21-19, 21-16 win. Se Young has consistently been one of the world’s best players, and she showed her class in securing the victory.
The men’s singles final will feature Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu, who upset China’s Weng Hong Yang 13-21, 21-10, 21-16. Lee, who has steadily risen in the ranks, will face Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, who fought back from a game down to overcome Indonesia’s Jonathan Christie 17-21, 21-14, 21-14.
Axelsen’s resilience in the second and third games highlighted his determination to secure his spot in the final.
In the mixed doubles category, the French pair of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue will take on China’s Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
Gicquel and Delrue defeated Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei 21-17, 21-15, while the Chinese duo overcame Malaysia’s Goh Soon Haut and Lai Shevon Jemie in a thrilling three-game battle, winning 18-21, 21-19, 21-9.
The women’s doubles final will be a clash between South Korea’s Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Hee Yong, who overcame Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 21-18, 21-18, and Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto, who defeated China’s Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min in a hard-fought match.
The Japanese pair secured a 18-21, 21-13, 21-17 win, sending them into the final.
The semifinals of the India Open 2025 showcased high-quality badminton, and while India’s hopes in the men’s doubles were dashed, the tournament is far from over. As the finals approach, fans can expect thrilling encounters in all categories.
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