Lakshya Sen rallies past Joakim Oldorff at Hylo Open as Indian shuttlers reach round of 16
India’s Lakshya Sen overcame a difficult opening-round test at the Hylo Open Super 500, recovering from a game down to defeat Finland’s Joakim Oldorff in Saarbrücken, Germany, on Wednesday. The seventh seed won 16-21, 21-9, 21-13 in 61 minutes, ending a frustrating run of four consecutive first-round exits at BWF World Tour tournaments.
Sen’s comeback offered an important boost to his campaign and a reminder of the resilience required in elite badminton. Oldorff, ranked No. 60 in the world, took the opening game by disrupting the Indian’s rhythm. Sen responded decisively, however, raising his intensity and controlling the rallies in the second and third games to secure his place in the round of 16.
Sen turns the match around after losing the opener
The opening game was closely contested, but Oldorff made the most of his early opportunities to move ahead. Sen struggled to find consistent control and went down 21-16, leaving himself with little margin for error. Rather than allowing the setback to dictate the match, the Indian reset quickly.
Sen’s response was emphatic. He took charge in the second game, moving Oldorff around the court and reducing the number of easy points available to the Finn. The 21-9 scoreline reflected the shift in momentum. Sen continued to apply pressure in the decider, where his improved consistency and sharper attacking play helped him close out the match 21-13.
For the Indian, the result matters beyond a single win. A string of early defeats at recent BWF World Tour events had interrupted his progress, making a successful opening at the Hylo Open especially valuable. The tournament now gives him an opportunity to build confidence and find greater consistency as he moves into the next round.
Unnati Hooda, Isharani Baruah and Malvika Bansod advance
India enjoyed a productive day in women’s singles, with Unnati Hooda, Isharani Baruah and Malvika Bansod all progressing to the round of 16. Their wins came through different kinds of contests, from a recovery after a slow start to a hard-fought all-Indian encounter.
Sixth-seeded Hooda had to work her way into her match against Czechia’s Tereza Svabikova, ranked No. 77. Svabikova claimed the first game 21-17, putting Hooda under immediate pressure. The Indian responded by improving her control of the rallies and limiting her opponent’s chances, taking the next two games 21-12 and 21-11.
Hooda will next face Denmark’s Frederikke Østergaard, who is ranked No. 116. The matchup gives the Indian a chance to carry the momentum from her comeback into the next stage, while also requiring her to maintain the discipline that helped her turn around the opener.
Malvika Bansod also advanced after defeating compatriot Devika Sihag 18-21, 21-10, 21-14. Devika started strongly and edged the first game, but Malvika responded with a commanding second-game performance. She carried that momentum into the decider to complete the win and secure a second-round meeting with Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang, the world No. 49.
The all-Indian contest guaranteed one representative would move forward, but it also meant one campaign would end early. Malvika’s recovery after dropping the opening game proved decisive, while Devika’s tournament came to a close despite a promising start.
Isharani and Anmol Kharb also book places in the next round
Isharani Baruah earned a straight-games victory over Germany’s Miranda Wilson, winning 21-19, 21-9 in 38 minutes. The first game was tightly fought, with Isharani needing to stay composed through the closing points. Once she secured it, she took greater control in the second and moved through to the round of 16.
Her next challenge is a significant one: eighth-seeded Danish player Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt. Isharani will need to sustain the focus she showed late in the opening game, particularly against an opponent seeded among the tournament’s leading players.
Teenager Anmol Kharb added another Indian win, defeating Sri Lanka’s Ranithma Liyanage 21-18, 22-20 in a 47-minute match between two 19-year-olds. The second game was especially close, but Anmol held her nerve to finish the match in straight games. She will next meet Denmark’s third seed, Line Christophersen, in a demanding test of her progress at the Super 500 event.
Aakarshi Kashyap exits as more Indians prepare to play
Aakarshi Kashyap was unable to join the group of Indian women advancing, losing 12-21, 18-21 to Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova. The defeat continues a difficult stretch for Kashyap at BWF World Tour events. She improved in the second game but could not force a decider, as Buhrova held on to complete the win.
Further Indian interest in the Hylo Open was scheduled to continue later on Wednesday. P. V. Sindhu, H. S. Prannoy, Ashmita Chaliha, Tharun Mannepalli, Kiran George and S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian were all set to begin their singles campaigns.
The opening day therefore brought a mix of encouraging progress and tough lessons for India’s badminton contingent. Sen’s three-game comeback, Hooda’s recovery and the wins for Isharani, Malvika and Anmol gave the team several reasons for optimism. With a challenging round of 16 ahead for the advancing players, the focus will now shift to maintaining consistency, managing pressure and converting first-round momentum into deeper runs at the Hylo Open.
