India Open 2025-Tough Road Ahead for Recovery for Prannoy-Confidence for Malvika after Draw with Han Yue

The India Open 2025 was a tough yet rewarding tournament for Indian shuttlers, as Malvika Bansod and H.S. Prannoy were seen to be very resilient despite stiff competition. Both players had their moments of brilliance, but they could not win their respective matches. Nevertheless, the experience will be something they can carry forward in the future tournaments.

Malvika Bansod, who had gone down to Han Yue just a week ago in Kuala Lumpur in straight games, fought much better this time around. In the first round of the India Open, the 23-year-old took the opening game off the World No. 4, and she was on the verge of causing an upset before the experience of her higher-ranked Chinese opponent came to the fore. Malvika's performance ended, but ultimately Han Yue came out victorious, leaving Malvika satisfied with her growth.

After the match, Malvika sounded very happy. "In less than five days, I have managed to take a game off her and corrected all my mistakes. The next time I meet her, it'll be my time," she said, speaking optimistically. When the chances that were available before were not seized, she smiled through it by just reflecting upon what had gone well and how to use these for better games.

Malvika also said that she had made specific changes to her game since their last match. "I cannot say much, but there are certain angles that she plays, and I was better prepared for them this time," she laughed. Reflecting on her strategic approach, Malvika noted that she had made some errors in the previous match in Malaysia when she was leading 10-5 but was unable to convert her advantage. This time, however, she successfully secured the first game, even though she could not win the match. “It was a great experience playing at home, and I’m glad for the improvements I’ve made,” she added.

On the other hand, H.S. Prannoy, who has been fighting off the effects of Chikungunya, admitted that his comeback had been a hard and laborious process. Prannoy, still at around 60-70% fitness, couldn't keep his early momentum in the first round of India Open. He lost to Su Li Yang in three games 16-21, 21-18, 21-12. However, that one setback only strengthened Prannoy's focus on the good sides, which were reasons he says, his fit physique was actually one of his downfalls.

"It has been a challenging time since recovery from Chikungunya, but I can see improvements in my game definitely so it is all good," 32-year-old said. "It's difficult to maintain consistency at this level without adequate breaks." According to Prannoy, Chikungunya had weakened his body to the extent that full recovery was difficult for him. "The physical part of the game requires so much dedication, especially when it comes to playing three-set matches every day," he explained. Still, he was optimistic, saying that his objective was to stay on the circuit and continue building his fitness and performance. Prannoy played reasonably well in Malaysia with some nagging injuries and he could well see the effort required to return to full fitness was a lot, but against Su Li Yang, he couldn't have gone beyond. However, he was quite optimistic for the future knowing well that recovery is a long haul, but each match brings him closer to the top of his game.

Meanwhile, Lakshya Sen, who had an off day, admitted that his opponent's faster and more attacking style had caught him on the wrong foot.

This was his second consecutive first-round exit, having suffered a similar fate in the Malaysia Open just a week ago. Acknowledging his opponent's excellent play, Lakshya expressed his frustration at not being able to implement his own game plan. I gave it my best, but full credit to him for playing sensationally," Lakshya said. The 12th-ranked Indian shuttler's next appearance will be at the Indonesia Masters, and he underlined getting back to his rhythm. The India Open 2025 was tough for many Indian players, but learning and growth are key takeaways.

Malvika remembered her potential as she was that close in a match with Han Yue. Here, Prannoy's grit to fight back for overcoming his health issues reflects a picture of strength and endurance over a period. Lakshya's experience emphasizes the significance of momentum and proper preparation in fast-paced games such as badminton. Much to be learned, however, can be taken from this event for future preparation and improvement for the athletes involved.