
Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth advanced to the quarter-finals of the men’s singles event at the Thailand Masters 2025 badminton tournament after a straightforward victory in Pathumwan on Thursday.
The world No. 47 Indian shuttler beat Hong Kong China’s Jason Gunawan, 41st in the badminton rankings, 21-19, 21-15 in their round of 16 match at the Nimibutr Stadium.
This was Kidambi Srikanth’s second straight-game win over Jason Gunawan in as many meetings.
Jason Gunawan made a positive start and led 6-2 in the early exchanges before Kidambi Srikanth fought back to reduce the deficit to 11-9 at the mid-game break.
Both shuttlers kept each other at arm’s length for the rest of the game before the Indian badminton player used his considerable experience to close out the opening game.
The second game saw Srikanth lead 11-8 at the halfway stage and the Indian shuttler ensured that he didn’t let his guard down to settle the match.
In India’s other men’s singles match of the day, Sankar Subramanian produced a valiant fightback to defeat Indonesia’s Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo 9-21, 21-10, 21-17 in 59 minutes.
Sankar Subramanian lost the first game against the Indonesian third seed but rallied to win the second and take the match into a decider.
Sankar, 68th in the badminton rankings, was down 14-9 against his world No. 32 opponent in the decider but produced a spirited comeback to win the third game and move into the quarter-finals of the BWF Super 300 tournament.
Both Indian shuttlers will face opponents from the People’s Republic of China in the final eight. Srikanth will square off against sixth seed Zheng Xing Wang while Sankar will take on Xuan Chen Zhu.
In women’s singles action, Rakshitha Ramraj defeated Tung Ciou-tong of Chinese Taipei 21-15, 21-12 in a match that lasted 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, eighth-seeded Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K also won their round of 16 men’s doubles match against Thailand’s Vichayapong Kanjanakeereewong and Narueset Laotherdpong.
They dropped the first game but rallied in the second and third to win the match 14-21, 21-10, 21-9.
Earlier in the day, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde lost their round of 16 match 21-19, 21-15 against local favourites Ratchapol Makkasasithorn and Ruethaichanok Laisuan.
Thailand Masters 2025 badminton Day 3: India results
Men’s singles
- Kidambi Srikanth beat Jason Gunawan (HKG) 21-19, 21-15
- Sankar Subramanian beat Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo (INA) 9-21, 21-10, 21-17
Men’s singles
- Rakshitha Ramraj beat Tung Ciou-tong (TPE) 21-15, 21-12
Men’s doubles
- Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy-Sai Pratheek K beat Vichayapong Kanjanakeereewong-Narueset Laotherdpong (THA) 14-21, 21-10, 21-9
- Hariharan Amsakarunan-Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi lost to Kang Min hyuk-Kim Won ho (KOR) 16-21, 21-8, 21-10
Mixed doubles
- Rohan Kapoor-Ruthvika Gadde lost to Ratchapol Makkasasithorn-Ruethaichanok Laisuan (THA) 21-19, 21-15