Bangkok, May 13 (UNI) Former world number one and world championship silver medallist, Kidambi Srikanth, crashed out of the Thailand Open 2025 badminton tournament after failing to make it past the qualification stage here on Tuesday.
Srikanth, currently ranked 71st in the men’s singles world rankings, began his qualifying campaign with a 21-15, 21-17 win over fellow Indian Sankar Subramanian. However, the 31-year-old fell short in the second round, going down 21-16, 21-19 to compatriot Tharun Mannepalli.
The defeat ended Srikanth’s hopes of entering the main draw, continuing a lean patch for the shuttler who has reached only one quarterfinal from eight appearances this season. In 2024, Srikanth had managed just a solitary semifinal from 14 tournaments.
Meanwhile, Tharun, ranked 53rd in the world, emerged as the only Indian to progress from the men's singles qualifiers. He edged out Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Kuan Lin 17-21, 21-19, 21-17 in his opener before clinching victory over Srikanth to seal his spot in the main draw.
Among other Indians, Ayush Shetty made a strong start with a 21-10, 21-11 rout of Finland’s Joakim Oldorff but was edged out by Malaysia’s Justin Hoh 21-14, 22-20 in the next round. Sathish Karunakaran also bowed out after a 17-21, 21-12, 21-12 defeat at the hands of Malaysian shuttler Aidil Sholeh.
In women’s singles, Ira Sharma staged a comeback win over Myanmar’s Thet Hthar Htuzar 18-21, 21-8, 21-12 but stumbled against local favourite Thamonwan Nithiittikrai 21-12, 21-18 in her second outing.
India's mixed doubles challenge in the qualifiers also ended early, with Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan suffering a 21-8, 21-10 loss to the Hong Kong China pair of Chan Yin Chak and NG Tsz Yau.
Main draw action begins on Wednesday, with India’s Paris 2024 Olympics semi-finalist Lakshya Sen, world No 10 women's doubles pair Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly, and teenage sensation Unnati Hooda among those set to feature.
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