Korea Open 2025: HS Prannoy Withdraws Due to Injury, India Exits in First Round

India’s challenge at the Korea Open 2025 came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday in Suwon, with none of the country’s badminton players advancing beyond the first round.

HS Prannoy, once ranked world No. 6, was forced to retire midway through his men’s singles opener against Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo due to recurring injury issues. Prannoy, now ranked 33rd, was trailing 16-8 in the first game when he withdrew in visible discomfort. Since reaching his peak in 2023, Prannoy has faced ongoing struggles with injuries and illnesses, including an indefinite break following the Paris 2024 Olympics to recover from chikungunya. This season has been particularly tough, marked by seven first-round exits and six round-of-16 finishes on the 2025 BWF World Tour.

Ayush Shetty, India’s only title winner on the 2025 circuit after his US Open Super 300 victory in June, was narrowly defeated 21-18, 21-18 by Chinese Taipei’s Su Li-yang. Despite leading in both games, the 27th-ranked Shetty could not maintain his momentum against the world No. 38 opponent.

Kiran George put up a strong fight against Singapore’s fifth seed and former world champion Loh Kean Yew, pushing the match to three games before losing 21-14, 20-22, 21-14.

In the women’s singles, Anupama Upadhyaya, India’s sole representative in the absence of PV Sindhu, lost 21-16, 21-15 to fourth seed and world championships bronze medallist Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia.

India’s only mixed doubles pair, Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan, also bowed out in the first round after a 21-7, 21-14 loss to Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara.

Earlier in the qualifying rounds, Tharun Mannepalli and Meiraba Luwang Maisnam failed to progress in the men’s singles event.

Notably absent from the Super 500 event were Paris 2024 men’s singles semi-finalist Lakshya Sen and Asian Games men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.