Thailand Open 2025: Indian shuttler Aakarshi Kashyap delivered one of the standout performances of the Thailand Open 2025 so far, upsetting Japan’s higher-ranked Kaoru Sugiyama in a pulsating women’s singles Round-of-32 clash on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old, ranked World No. 48, battled past the 37th-ranked Sugiyama in a thrilling three-game encounter, carving her way into the pre-quarterfinals with a 21-16, 20-22, 22-20 triumph.
Kashyap’s courtcraft and sheer tenacity were on full display as she defied the odds against a seasoned opponent. From the outset, she looked in command, mixing deft drops with sharp cross-court smashes to unsettle Sugiyama. The opening game saw Kashyap seize control early, racing to an 11-6 mid-game lead before closing it 21-16 with poise.
The second game, however, swung in favour of the Japanese, who regrouped and mounted a fierce comeback. Kashyap had a match point at 20-19, but Sugiyama held her nerve and pushed the tie into a decider. The final game was a riveting back-and-forth affair with both players exchanging leads and testing each other’s physical and mental limits. Eventually, it was the Indian who stood tall, converting her second match point at 22-20 and letting out a victorious roar as she sealed the biggest win of her season so far.
Meanwhile, Unnati Hooda continued her blazing run in May, proving once again that her recent Taipei Open semi-final finish was no flash in the pan. The 17-year-old overcame a stern test from local hope Thamonwan Nithiittikrai, battling through three gruelling games to clinch a 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 victory.
Displaying composure well beyond her years, Hooda combined speed, anticipation and resilience to outlast the Thai shuttler in a tense third game. The teenager saved a match point at 20-21 before reeling off three consecutive points, closing the door on Nithiittikrai’s hopes with an assertive net kill.
Hooda’s recent form has made her one of the most talked-about young prospects on the women’s circuit. With her fearless play and growing confidence on international courts, she is fast emerging as a key figure in the next generation of Indian badminton.
With Kashyap’s surprise success and Hooda’s consistency, India’s women’s singles campaign at the Thailand Open has received a timely boost. Both shuttlers now look to carry the momentum into the last-16, where sterner challenges await – but if today was any indication, neither is short on belief or form.
As the tournament heats up in Bangkok, Indian fans have reason to keep their eyes peeled – because Aakarshi and Unnati are lighting up the courts with fire and flair.