Badminton: Lakshya Sen, H.S. Prannoy lead India’s challenge in Kumamoto Japan Masters 2025
In Kumamoto, Japan, the Indian badminton squad kicks off the 2025 season on Tuesday with a lineup that mixes seasoned stars and promising newcomers.
Top singles players Lakshya Sen and H.S. Prannoy will headline the men’s singles draw. Laksha, a Paris Olympic semifinalist, opens the tournament against local favourite Koki Watanabe at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium. Prannoy, a World Championship bronze medalist, will face Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao in his first match.
Both players are chasing valuable ranking points. Laksha hopes to swing his position in the “Race to Finals” and squeeze into the world‑tour‑finals spot that only the top eight competitors earn. He sits 13th in the standings and a strong finish at the Kumamoto Masters could boost his leap up the rankings. Laksha’s 2025 run has seen early exits and a quarter‑final spot at the Hong Kong Open, his deepest finish this year.
Prannoy returns to action after an injury at the Korea Open last September. He hasn’t progressed past the second round in any of his 14 BWF World Tour appearances this year, and the Kumamoto event marks his first competitive outing in months. The 33‑year‑old is eager to prove that he still belongs among the world’s best.
India also fields four other men’s singles players. Ayush Shetty, who captured a BWF title at the US Open, joins Kiran George and Tharun Mannepalli. Young 17‑year‑old Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye will compete in the women’s singles qualifiers; she’s the only Indian on the stage as other stars like P.V. Sindhu have already wrapped up their seasons.
In doubles, India will not compete in the men’s division, as Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have withdrawn. The mixed‑doubles group features Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, the country’s sole bid in that category.
With a mix of experience and fresh talent, the Indian delegation looks to secure points, bounce back from injury setbacks, and potentially set the stage for a spot in the prestigious season‑ending BWF World Tour Finals.
Source: ianslive
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