“`html

Hylo Open 2025: Sen, Shetty Bow Out; Hooda Carries Indian Hopes in German Badminton Showdown

Saarbrucken, Germany – October 31, 2025 – the Hylo Open 2025, a prestigious BWF Super 500 tournament, saw a mixed bag of fortunes for indian badminton enthusiasts. While the highly anticipated men’s singles campaign featuring top contenders Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Kiran George concluded in the quarterfinals, a bright spark emerged in the form of Unnati Hooda, who single-handedly carried India’s hopes into the semifinals.

Sen and Shetty’s quarterfinal Exit

The day began with disappointment for fans tracking the progress of India’s top men’s singles talent. Ayush Shetty, currently ranked 31st globally, was the first to face the exit. In a nail-biting three-set thriller that went down to the wire, shetty narrowly lost to Finland’s Kalle Koljonen with a scoreline of 19-21, 21-12, 20-22. This was a tough pill to swallow, especially considering Shetty’s impressive earlier victory over the 2021 World Champion, Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, in straight games.

Following Shetty,India’s highest-ranked men’s singles player,Lakshya Sen (world No. 17), also found himself on the losing side. Sen battled hard against the formidable world No.16, Alex Lanier of France, but ultimately succumbed in three games, 21-17, 14-21, 21-15. The match showcased the intense competition at this elite level, where even top seeds can face unexpected challenges.

Kiran George, whose father george Thomas is a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, also saw his Hylo Open journey end in the quarterfinals. He was defeated