Top names Shi Yuqi and Viktor Axelsen headline withdrawals from BWF Arctic Open 2025.

The BWF Arctic Open 2025 set to take place in Vantaa, Finland from October 7 to 12, has witnessed a wave of high-profile withdrawals across all five categories.

With several of the world’s top-ranked players pulling out, the tournament landscape looks significantly reshaped, offering a golden opportunity for emerging talents to make their mark.

In men’s singles, the event takes a major blow as World No. 1 Shi Yuqi and Olympic Champion Viktor Axelsen have withdrawn. Shi’s decision comes amid a packed post–World Championships period, while Axelsen, still under Rank Protected status, continues to manage his return carefully.

China’s Li Shi Feng, India’s HS Prannoy, Priyanshu Rajawat, and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran are among the other key names missing. Japan’s Riku Hatano and Denmark’s Jakob Houe have also pulled out, along with Slovakia’s Milan Dratva and England’s Raymond Webster.

The women’s singles field also suffers notable losses. Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki, Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min, and India’s P. V. Sindhu headline the withdrawals. Canada’s Michelle Li and India’s Anupama Upadhyaya have also opted out, leaving the women’s draw lighter than usual.

The men’s doubles event has been hit hard too, with elite pairs like Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (India) and Frederik Søgaard/Rasmus Kjær (Denmark) among the withdrawals.

Japan’s Kyohei Yamashita/Hiroki Midorikawa, Malaysia’s Teo Ee Yi/Ong Yew Sin, and Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul are also out. USA’s Presley Smith/Chen Zhi Yi and India’s Abinash Mohanty/Ayush Pattanayak have withdrawn as well.

In women’s doubles, the USA’s Jennie Gai/Francesca Corbett are the notable absentees, reducing the North American presence in the draw.

The mixed doubles category sees the longest list of withdrawals, with 13 pairs pulling out. Among them are Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa/Natsu Saito, Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, and Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah.

Also Read: Arctic Open: Full list of title winners

Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje, Indonesia’s Adnan Maulana/Indah Cahya Sari Jamil, and India’s Rohan Kapoor/Gadde Ruthvika Shivani also feature on the list, significantly altering the field’s dynamics.

While these absences may dilute the overall star presence, they simultaneously open the door for rising names to seize the spotlight and gather valuable ranking points as the race to the season-ending World Tour Finals heats up.

Full list of withdrawals from BWF Arctic Open 2025

Men’s Singles

• Shi Yuqi (China)
• Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
• Li Shi Feng (China)
• HS Prannoy (India)
• Priyanshu Rajawat (India)
• Sathish Kumar Karunakaran (India)
• Riku Hatano (Japan)
• Jakob Houe (Denmark)
• Milan Dratva (Slovakia)
• Raymond Webster (England)

Women’s Singles

• Tomoka Miyazaki (Japan)
• Yeo Jia Min (Singapore)
• P. V. Sindhu (India)
• Michelle Li (Canada)
• Anupama Upadhyaya (India)

Men’s Doubles

• Chirag Shetty / Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (India)
• Frederik Søgaard / Rasmus Kjær (Denmark)
• Kyohei Yamashita / Hiroki Midorikawa (Japan)
• Teo Ee Yi / Ong Yew Sin (Malaysia)
• Presley Smith / Chen Zhi Yi (USA)
• Peeratchai Sukphun / Pakkapon Teeraratsakul (Thailand)
• Abinash Mohanty / Ayush Pattanayak (India)

Women’s Doubles

• Jennie Gai / Francesca Corbett (USA)

Also Read: Arctic Open 2025: Anmol Kharb, Dhruv-Tanisha advance to quarter-finals

Mixed Doubles

• Chen Zhi Yi / Francesca Corbett (USA)
• Mathias Christiansen / Alexandra Bøje (Denmark)
• Ludwig Axelsson / Malena Norrman (Sweden)
• Hiroki Midorikawa / Natsu Saito (Japan)
• Jafar Hidayatullah / Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu (Indonesia)
• Amri Syahnawi / Nita Violina Marwah (Indonesia)
• Adnan Maulana / Indah Cahya Sari Jamil (Indonesia)
• Presley Smith / Jennie Gai (USA)
• Rohan Kapoor / Gadde Ruthvika Shivani (India)
• Sathish Kumar Karunakaran / Aadya Variyath (India)
• Rinov Rivaldy / Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (Indonesia)
• Joshua Magee / Moya Ryan (Ireland)
• Calvin Devereux / Desiree Toepffer (Germany)

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram