Indian badminton stars Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu spearheaded a productive day for the nation at the Thailand Open Super 500, with both securing commanding straight-game victories to advance to the second round. Srikanth, a former world No. 1, delivered a statement performance by upsetting eighth seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore with a 21-14, 21-15 victory in just 30 minutes. Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu maintained her momentum by easing past Chinese Taipei's Tung Ciou-Tong.
Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu walk into Thailand Open's 2nd round
Looking ahead to the round of 16, Srikanth is set to face Su Li Yang of Chinese Taipei, while Sindhu will prepare for a matchup against Denmark’s Amalie Schulz. Their progression provides a significant boost to the Indian contingent as the tournament moves into its more critical stages.
However, it was a day of mixed fortunes for the younger Indian shuttlers, who faced tough resistance from Japanese opponents. Ayush Shetty, recently a finalist at the Asia Championships, showed flashes of brilliance by forcing a third game against sixth seed Kodai Naraoka, but eventually succumbed to a 13-21, 21-17, 4-21 defeat. In another men's singles encounter, Tharun Mannepalli’s campaign came to an end following a 12-21, 16-21 loss to Koki Watanabe.
Young Indian talents Unnati Hooda and Anmol Kharb showcased remarkable resilience despite their eventual exits from the tournament. Both players pushed elite opponents to the limit in tightly contested three-game matches. Hooda claimed the opening game against Thailand's fourth seed, Pornpawee Chochuwong, before falling 21-11, 17-21, 16-21. Similarly, Kharb put up a spirited fight against the reigning Tokyo Olympic champion, Chen Yu Fei, narrowly missing out on an upset with a 21-19, 13-21, 18-21 defeat.
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The action continues later in the day with several key Indian players scheduled to take the court. Seventh seed Lakshya Sen, a former two-time All England finalist, is set to face Singapore's Jia Heng Jason Teh. The women’s singles draw also remains active for India, with Malvika Bansod, Isharani Baruah, and Tanvi Sharma all slated for their respective opening matches.
India’s presence extends into the mixed doubles category as well. Three pairs—Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, and Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh—remain in the fray, looking to add to the nation's success at the Thailand Open.