India’s Sudirman Cup journey began with a harsh reality check. As of recent, the team slumped to a 1-4 defeat against Denmark. Additionally, top names like Satwik-Chirag and Treesa-Gayatri have been sidelined due to injury. Thus, making most people’s expectations of the Indian roster a little more modest. But what occurred on April 27 was a sobering reminder of how far India still needs to go in this elite mixed team tournament.
Mixed Doubles for India in Sudirman Cup 2025
Tanisha Crasto and Dhruv Kapila were team captains that debuted in the Sudirman Cup, and were immediately under pressure. India ranked 17th in the world, they had to face Denmark’s very own World No. 8 pair, Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund.
The gap in their tiers was shockingly evident.
Denmark’s best quickly overpowered the Indian captains with their fast, aggressive gameplay – eventually sealing the match in just 33 minutes with a score of 21-13, 21-14.
Despite their promise, Tanisha and Dhruv showed hesitance on the big stage. They were unable to adapt to the pace and precision of the Danes. This alone highlighted their difference between Top 10 and Top 20 pairs in the world of badminton. After all, the Sudirman Cup shows no mercy. And it is clearer than ever for the Indian players.
PV Sindhu: From Control to Collapse
Olympic player PV Sindhu’s matches should have been a turning point for the Indian roster. Sure, twice, she had a commanding lead and appeared to be the solid winner from the start. Yet, twice, she surrendered streaks of 6 and 8 points. With that, she lost in straight sets.
Seeing as PV Sindhu is one of India’s greatest prides in badminton, it was disheartening to see that it only solidified India’s frustrating run in this tournament.
HS Prannoy Battles, But Falls Short
Then, you’ve got veteran HS Prannoy, who fought hard to show pride to his country. His intensity and fire in the men’s singles, however guided, still ended in a tie. With all that grit, he still did not come close to securing a win. Anders Antenson of Denmark, his opponent in the recent match, clearly showed control throughout.
This only underscored how Prannoy’s raw determination is still outweighed by consistency and precision, especially at a level like the Sudirman Cup.
Men’s Doubles: Lessons in Progress
Over in the men’s doubles, India has youngsters Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rathinasabapathi, both aged 21, enter as major underdogs. While the expectations for them fell short, they would still leave with some valuable lessons. They are still rather new to the Top 50 ranking. And they might just remain there after the Danes kept their rallies short and sharp against the Indian duo in the last match. This only further exposed Amsakarunan and Rathinasabapathi’s novice in the game.
Women’s Doubles: The Lone Bright Spot
But it is not all bad news, as India still managed their only win in a final Women’s Doubles match with Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra. With their 21-13, 21-18 win, they proved to be an unstoppable force; salvaging the measured pride of the India roster. Compared to their earlier mixed doubles counterparts – Krasto and Capila – they showed excellent composure and tactical awareness.
It is, indeed, a small victory out of many losses. And one that will hopefully inspire belief, still, in India’s young talent pool of the future Sudirman Cup matches.
Final Thoughts: India Still Chasing the Sudirman Dream
India remains without a Sudirman Cup medal, and the most recent tournament results indicate that more waiting time is probable. The real problem for Indian players lies in their immense gap between their superior top 20 players and global championship competitors.
The global badminton matches on Sudirman Cup receive premium betting markets from the trusted betting site 12BET, especially for fans and punters who seek action. But as far as India’s campaign goes, unless there’s a turnaround in form and mindset, this edition may end like many others — with lessons learned, but medals still out of reach.