Tokyo, July 18, 2025: India’s campaign at the Japan Open suffered a crushing blow as star men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty and singles hope Lakshya Sen exited in the second round of the Super 750 tournament on Thursday.
Doubles Heartbreak Against Olympic Silver Medalists
The world No. 3 Indian duo fought fiercely but fell 22-24, 14-21 to fifth-seeded Chinese pair Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang in a 44-minute thriller. Despite leading 18-14 in the opener, Satwik-Chirag couldn't convert their advantage against the Paris Olympics silver medalists, who now hold a dominant 7-2 head-to-head record. This marks India’s fourth consecutive defeat to the Chinese combination.
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Lakshya’s Momentum Stalls
World No. 18 Lakshya Sen followed suit with a 19-21, 11-21 loss to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka. After a strong opening-round win against China’s Wang Zheng Xing (21-11, 21-18), the 23-year-old couldn’t maintain his rhythm against the home favorite in a 58-minute battle.
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Satwik-Chirag’s Struggle
Lost tight first game after failing to capitalize on 18-14 lead
Struggled with smashes and defense in second game
Suffered fourth straight defeat to Chinese rivals
Lakshya’s Inconsistency
Failed to build on promising first-round performance
Won just 11 points in lopsided second game
Tournament Impact
India left without contenders in men’s singles/doubles
Early exit for reigning Asian Games gold medalists Satwik-Chirag
The losses mark a significant setback for Indian badminton ahead of the World Championships, with both pairs seeking to regain peak form. Satwik-Chirag’s recent struggles against top Chinese opposition remain a concern heading into major events.
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