The Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2025 turned out to be a disappointing outing for India, as their campaign ended in the quarterfinals after suffering a 3-0 defeat against Japan. Despite their efforts, the Indian team could not match up to the Japanese dominance, failing to advance beyond the last-eight stage.
Quarterfinal Clash: India vs Japan
India’s journey came to an abrupt halt on February 14, when Japan clinched a 3-0 victory in the quarterfinals, leaving India without a medal. The Indian squad had previously secured a bronze medal in 2023, but this time, they fell short of expectations.
“It was a tough loss for the team, and missing out on a semifinal spot is disappointing,” said an official from the Indian contingent.
HS Prannoy’s Decisive Battle
India’s HS Prannoy took the court in a must-win singles match but faced stiff competition from Kenta Nishimoto. Prannoy fought hard, forcing the game into a decider, but Nishimoto dominated the final set. The intense battle lasted one hour and 17 minutes, ending with scores of 21-14, 15-21, 21-14 in favor of Nishimoto.
Missed Opportunities in Doubles
The early defeats in men’s and women’s singles meant that India’s doubles pairs did not get a chance to showcase their skills. The women’s doubles duo Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly and the men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty remained on the sidelines as the tie was already decided before their matches could take place.
India’s Performance in the Tournament
India entered the tournament with high hopes of securing a second consecutive medal, but their performance fell short of expectations. Here’s a breakdown of their campaign:
✔ Strong group-stage performances set up their quarterfinal clash. ✔ HS Prannoy’s efforts in singles were commendable despite the loss. ✔ Lack of doubles action due to the early defeat added to the disappointment. ✔ Japan’s dominance in all matches left India with no chance to stage a comeback.
The Road Ahead for Indian Badminton
With the Paris Olympics 2024 on the horizon, Indian shuttlers will look to regroup and refocus on future tournaments. The Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship 2025 may not have gone as planned, but it serves as a crucial learning experience for players aiming for international success.
The Indian badminton fraternity remains hopeful that the squad will bounce back stronger, using this setback as motivation for upcoming global events. Fans now shift their focus to the next challenge, hoping for a better outcome.