Indian badminton star Lakshya Sen delivered a dazzling performance at the USD 475,000 Hylo Open Super 500 in Saarbrucken, Germany, on Wednesday, stunning World No. 5 Christo Popov of France in straight games to advance to the pre-quarterfinals. The 23-year-old Indian, a 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, needed just 38 minutes to claim a 21-16, 22-20 victory in a match that showcased his sharp attacking play and tactical maturity.
Riding on the momentum from his runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open earlier this month, Sen maintained relentless pace and crisp shot-making to outclass the fifth seed. With the win, he set up an all-Indian Round of 16 clash against compatriot S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, who overcame Malaysia’s Jun Hao Leong 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 in a tightly contested opener. The upcoming match promises exciting rivalry as both players continue to push India’s presence on the world stage.
However, the day brought mixed fortunes for the Indian contingent as former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth crashed out in his opening round. In a one-sided all-Indian duel, Kiran George dominated from start to finish, clinching a 21-19, 21-11 win to progress to the next round. George will now face France’s eighth seed Toma Junior Popov, who survived a tense three-game battle against England’s Harry Huang.
The women's singles draw witnessed exceptional performances from India’s rising stars. Unseeded Shriyanshi Valishetty produced a sensational upset by defeating third seed Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark 21-19, 21-12 in only 33 minutes. Rakshitha Santhosh Ramraj also impressed with a solid 21-14, 21-16 win over Spain’s Clara Azurmendi. The two promising Indians will now face each other in the pre-quarterfinals, ensuring one of them secures a quarterfinal berth for India.
Despite the overall success, there was heartbreak for teenage sensation Anmol Kharb, who came agonizingly close to victory before losing 24-26, 21-23 to Denmark’s eighth seed Julie Dawall Jakobsen. Her spirited display, however, underscored India’s growing strength in women’s badminton. With Lakshya leading the charge and new talents emerging strongly, India’s Hylo Open campaign reflects both depth and determination as the tournament heads into its decisive stages.