India’s badminton campaign at the Indonesia Open 2025 got off to a mixed start as PV Sindhu advanced to the second round after a gritty win, while Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy bowed out in hard-fought first-round matches. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, edged past longtime rival Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a tense three-game battle: 22-20, 21-23, 21-15. The match, lasting nearly 80 minutes, saw Sindhu save game points, unleash cross-court smashes, and finally seal the decider with a flurry of winners. Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, returning from a back injury, showed flashes of brilliance against world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi. He saved a match point to take the second game but eventually lost 11-21, 22-20, 15-21 in a 65-minute contest. HS Prannoy, too, couldn’t find his rhythm and fell to Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan in straight games: 17-21, 18-21. With Sindhu moving into the round of 16 and the men’s singles hopes dashed early, India’s focus now shifts to the doubles events and Sindhu’s next challenge.
Sindhu Survives Thriller, Sen and Prannoy Exit Early at Indonesia Open
