Japan Open 2025: Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag knocked out in second round

Anupama Upadhyaya remains the only Indian alive in the competition.

India’s challenge at the BWF Japan Open 2025 suffered another blow after Lakshya Sen and Satwik-Chirag crashed out in the second round with straight-game defeats. In a familiar tale, both shuttlers threw away the match after a decent start.

While Lakshya had a close first game and even led mid-game, Satwik–Chirag threw away leads in both games to exit the BWF Super 750 event. Their defeats followed PV Sindhu’s opening-round shocker yesterday, depleting India’s challenge in the competition. Anupama Upadhyaya is now the lone remaining Indian in the event and will be in action later in the day.

Satwik-Chirag in action against fellow former World No. 1s Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang started 18-14 in the first game but conceded it to lose 22-24, having saved game points. Similarly in the second game, they Indian duo were 10-6 ahead at one stage, but eventually fell behind and lost 14-21 to get knocked out.

What’s more damning is they lost within an hour, raising questions over their fitness given recent injuries. This was also the second consecutive tournament that the pair failed to reach the semi-final stage.

Meanwhile, Lakshya didn’t look like he stood any chance against the home favourite and seventh seed Kodai Naraoka, going down 19-21, 11-21 in 54 minutes. Sen, India’s top-ranked men’s singles shuttler, looked competitive in the first game but struggled to maintain rhythm in the second as Naraoka picked up pace and closed out the match in straight games.

Earlier yesterday, Sindhu suffered her career-first loss against Korea’s Sim Yu Jin, losing in straight games (15-21, 14-21) in the opening round. She was joined by Unnati Hooda and doubles pairs Hariharan Amsakarunan/Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi and Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi.

In the other women’s singles matches, Anupama Upadhyaya overcame fellow Indian Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj 21-15, 18-21, 21-18 in a gritty three-game battle. After taking the opening game, Anupama struggled to close the second but came back stronger in the decider to seal the match in over an hour. This win marks her entry into the Round of 16 at a Super 750 event for the first time.

ALSO READ: Japan Open 2025: PV Sindhu crashes out in first round; Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya Sen advance

In men’s doubles, Hariharan/Ruban were outclassed by third-seeded Koreans Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, losing 15-21, 9-21. In women’s doubles, Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi bowed out after a 6-21, 15-21 defeat against Lui Lok Lok and Tsang Hiu Yan of Hong Kong.

India’s results at Japan Open 2025 (July 16–17)

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