Lakshya Sen Stuns Christo Popov as Indians Shine at Hylo Open Super 500

Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen produced a stunning performance to defeat fifth seed Christo Popov of France and storm into the men’s singles pre-quarterfinals of the USD 475,000 Hylo Open Super 500 tournament on Wednesday.

The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, who reached the finals of the Hong Kong Open earlier this year, showcased his sharp form and composure under pressure to overcome the higher-ranked Frenchman 21-16, 22-20 in straight games. Lakshya’s quick footwork and precision in attack kept Popov on the defensive throughout the 46-minute encounter.

The victory marks an encouraging start for the 23-year-old, who will next face compatriot S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian in the round of 16. Sankar booked his place with a gritty 21-14, 18-21, 21-16 win over Malaysia’s Jun Hao Leong in another opening-round contest. The all-Indian clash promises to be an intriguing battle between two contrasting styles — Lakshya’s fast-paced attacking game and Sankar’s patient, tactical play.

However, it was disappointment for veteran Kidambi Srikanth, who exited early after a straight-games defeat to fellow Indian Kiran George. Srikanth fought hard in the first game but was unable to sustain the momentum, losing 19-21, 11-21. George, on the other hand, continued his fine run of form and will next face eighth seed Toma Junior Popov of France, who edged out England’s Harry Huang 21-17, 19-21, 21-19 in a tight contest.

India also had plenty to cheer about in the women’s singles category. Unseeded Shriyanshi Valishetty delivered one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far by dismantling third seed Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark 21-19, 21-12 in just 33 minutes. Valishetty displayed tremendous control and aggression, dictating the rallies from start to finish.

Joining her in the round of 16 was young Rakshitha Santhosh Ramraj, who cruised past Spain’s Clara Azurmendi 21-14, 21-16. The two Indians will now face each other in the next round, ensuring at least one Indian quarterfinalist from the women’s draw.

Meanwhile, Anmol Kharb bowed out of the tournament despite a valiant effort against eighth seed Julie Dawall Jakobsen of Denmark. The teenager fought hard but fell just short, losing 24-26, 21-23 in a closely contested match.

With multiple Indian players advancing across categories, the Hylo Open has turned into a showcase of India’s growing badminton depth and emerging young talent.