Kumamoto Masters Japan 2025: HS Prannoy falls in second round; Lakshya Sen marches into quarter-finals
- indiasportsgroup
- Nov 13, 2025
- 2 min read
Prannoy has competed in 15 BWF events this season but has not been able to progress beyond the round of 16. Lakshya Sen won his contest in straight games.
HS Prannoy’s struggles this season continued as he bowed out of the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2025 badminton tournament after a straight-games defeat in the second round on Thursday.
HS Prannoy, who was sixth in the badminton rankings two years ago before injuries and chikungunya halted his progress, lost 21-18, 21-15 against 30th-ranked Rasmus Gemke of Denmark in 46 minutes at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium.
Prannoy, now ranked 35th, had strong starts in both games - leading 12-8 in the first and 4-2 in the second. However, he lost steam as the games progressed and suffered his third defeat against Rasmus Gemke in seven meetings.
The 33-year-old Indian badminton player has endured a difficult season this year. He has not advanced past the second round in any of his 15 BWF World Tour appearances in 2025, suffering seven first-round exits along the way.
On Wednesday, HS Prannoy battled past Malaysia’s world No. 22 Jun Hao Leong in three games.
Paris 2024 semi-finalist Lakshya Sen, seeded seventh at the BWF Super 500 tournament, progressed to the quarter-finals after a 21-13, 21-11 win over world No. 20 Jason Teh of Singapore in 39 minutes.
World No. 15 Sen overcame a brief wobble in the first game before pulling ahead with seven straight points from 14-13 to seal the opener. He was in complete control in the second, racing to 5-0 and 11-3 leads before closing out the match with ease.
This was Sen’s fourth win in as many meetings against Jason Teh. He will next face former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the quarter-finals, holding a 6-3 head-to-head advantage over him.
Lakshya Sen is the only Indian badminton player alive at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2025. India’s challenge in the doubles and women’s singles events ended on Wednesday.
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