Ayush, Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya Reach Hong Kong Open Quarterfinals

Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty delivered a major upset at the Hong Kong Open 2025 by defeating former world No. 2 and 2023 World Championships silver medallist Kodai Naraoka in a thrilling three-game match. Ayush, who won the US Open Super 300 earlier in the year, will face his compatriot Lakshya Sen in the quarterfinals, guaranteeing India at least one semifinalist in men’s singles. Lakshya Sen made a strong comeback to reach his first quarterfinal in six months, overcoming HS Prannoy in three games, while the men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also advanced after a tough match against Thailand’s duo. This marks a significant boost for Indian badminton, with Ayush and Lakshya both training at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy and showing promising form despite recent challenges. However, Kiran George was eliminated by third seed Chou Tien Chen, and the Panda sisters exited the women’s doubles competition. Overall, the performances keep India's hopes alive across multiple categories at the prestigious Super 500 event.