Japan Masters 2025: Lakshya through to second round; Kiran, Shetty knocked out

India’s Lakshya Sen advanced to the second round of the Japan Masters, a BWF World Tour Super 500 event, in Kumamoto City on Wednesday.

. Seventh seed Lakshya took down local hope and World No. 26 Koki Watanabe 21-12, 21-16 in 39 minutes. The Indian will face either Canada’s Victor Lai, World Championships bronze medallist, or Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh for a place in the quarterfinals. Later in the day, H.S.Pronoy and Tharun Mannepalli will also be in action in the opening round of men’s singles.

In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Gadde saved four match points before eventually losing 12-21, 21-19, 20-22 to Americans Presley Smith and Jennie Gai.