Japan and Indonesia triumph with four golds, India pocket two silvers
Japan and Indonesia took a major share of honours as Malaysia’s Sholeh Aidil and Japan’s Manami Suizu were crowned the Men’s and Women’s Singles champions of the HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, concluded at the St. Joseph’s College Indoor Complex in Darley Road, Colombo on Sunday.
Japan claimed two gold medals, the Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles, and settled with a sole silver medal in the Mixed Doubles. Indonesia claimed two gold medals, winning the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, and claimed four bronze medals in Men’s Singles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Malaysia produced a Men’s Singles gold medal winner while claiming their only bronze medal in Men’s Doubles.
India claimed two silver medals and a bronze, after both their finalists crashed out in the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles final, while Chinese Taipei pocketed their solitary medal, a silver, in the Men’s Doubles. Thailand won a silver in Women’s Doubles and two bronze medals in Women’s Singles and Men’s Doubles. Sri Lanka’s only medal, a bronze, was claimed by Viren Nettasinghe, who competed in the Men’s Singles.
Malaysia’s Sholeh Aidil utlised both his brawn and brain to outsmart India’s Pranay Katta in straight sets to triumph as the Men’s Singles winner, after thwarting Sri Lanka’s Viren Nettasinghe from the semi-finals on Saturday. Aidil gradually picked momentum to frustrate Katta in the first set, before snatching it by 21/19 and continuing the same strategy to win the second set by 21/15 to clinch the title of the six-day tournament. Aidil beat Viren in straight sets, with scores of 21/16 and 21/18 in the semi-final, while Katta comfortably overcame Indonesia’s Prahdiska Shujiwo in straight sets.
In a spectacular battle, Japan’s Manami Suizu produced the most inspiring win against Adita Rao of India to snatch the Women’s Singles title. Though it was a straight win for the Japanese, the final went down to the wire as the second set stretched out to the end as Suizu sealed the game 27/25, after easily winning the first set 21/12. Suizu defeated Thailand’s Lalinrat Chaiwan in straight sets in the semi-final, while Rao pushed aside her fellow compatriot Shreya Lele in straight sets to reach the final.
Indonesia’s Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin dominated against Chinese Taipei’s Chia Yen Lin and Yong Sheng Lin, to claim the Men’s Doubles gold medal with a straight win. The winners had very little to counter as they claimed the sets by 21/14 and 21/12 on their way to record an early win. The Indonesian pair recorded a straight win against Malaysia’s Xin Yuan Boon and Yi Bo Lee while the Lin brothers from Chinese Taipei overcame Pharanyu Kaosamaang and Tanadon Punpanich of Thailand by 2-1 in the semi-finals.
Hina Osawa and Akari Sato of Japan displayed a grand spectacle to outsmart Tidapron Kleebyeesun and Nattamon Laisuan of Thailand 2-1 on their way to win the Women’s Doubles title. The first set was intensely battled by both pairs, in which the Japanese duo snatched a stunning 22/20 win. However, Kleebyeesun and Laisuan regrouped to claim the second set 21/15 to push the game to a deciding setter, which Osawa and Sato won 21/15 to seal the game. Osawa and Sato recorded straight win against Indonesia’s Isyana Media and Rinjani Nastine in the semi-finals, while Kleebyeesun and Laisuan defeated Velisha Christina and Lanny Mayasari of Indonesia in same fashion to reach the final.
Bobby Setiabudi and Melati Oktavianti of Indonesia showcased remarkable resistance to beat Yuta Watanabe and Maya Taguchi of Japan to clinch the Mixed Doubles title 2-1. The Japanese pair snatched the first set 21/16, but the Indonesian duo staged an even par comeback to sweep the second set 21/14 and level the game. The deciding third and final set was well contested by both pairs, but Setiabudi and Oktavianti displayed their level of temperament to record a 21/18 win and claim the Mixed Doubles title.
In the semi-finals, Japan’s Watanabe and Taguchi recorded a comfortable 2-0 win against Indonesia’s Raymond Indra and Rinjani Nastine while Setiabudi and Oktavianti recorded a similar straight win against fellow compatriots Nikolaus Joaquin and Siti Azzahra.
Sri Lanka’s top seed Men’s Single shuttler Viren Nettasinghe crashed out from the HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 on Saturday, after losing his semi-final clash against Malaysia’s Sholeh Aidil, thus was guaranteed with a bronze medal. On Friday, Viren toppled Kai Cheng of Chinese Taipei 2-1 in the quarter-final clash, after overcoming Malaysia’s Zhen Yi Ong 2-1 in the Round of 16 on Thursday. This was after he recorded an inspiring straight win against Naren Iyer of India in the Round of 32 stage earlier the same day. On Wednesday in the Round of 64, Viren had a shaky start against unseeded Henrikho Kho of Indonesia but bounced back to record a thrilling 2-1.
Johanne Peries, who became the second Sri Lankan to summit Mount Everest, graced the awards ceremony as the chief guest. Following the HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, where a total prize money of USD 17,500 was on offer, Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) will proceed with its second global competition – the HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Series 2025 at the same venue. A total prize money of USD 5,000 will be on offer at the HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Series 2025 which is sponsored by HUNDRED, LiNing, Mobil, McFoil, and 3M.
Finals Results:
Men’s Singles: Sholeh Aidil (Mas) beat Pranay Katta (Ind) 2-0 (21/19, 21/15)
Women’s Singles: Manami Suizu (Jpn) beat Adita Rao (Ind) 2-0 (21/12, 27/25)
Men’s Doubles: Raymond Indra/Nikolaus Joaquin (Indo) beat Chia Yen Lin/Yong Sheng Lin (CT) 2-0 (21/14, 21.12)
Women’s Doubles: Hina Osawa/Akari Sato (Jpn) beat Tidapron Kleebyeesun/Nattamon Laisuan (Thai) 2-1 (22/20, 21/15, 21/15)
Mixed Doubles: Bobby Setiabudi/Melati Oktavianti (Indo) beat Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi (Jpn) 2-1 (16/21, 21/14, 21/18)
