The Korea Open 2025 has started with a setback for Indian badminton as HS Prannoy was forced to retire in the opening round due to a recurrence of an old injury. The tournament, a Super 500 event on the Badminton World Tour (BWF), is taking place at the Suwon Gymnasium in South Korea.

Prannoy, a former World Championships medalist, entered the Korea Open 2025 with the hopes of regaining consistency after a somewhat lackluster season. The 32-year-old, currently ranked 33rd in the world, has been aiming for his first BWF World Tour title since the Malaysia Masters in 2023.

The Korea Open 2025 was viewed as an opportunity for Prannoy to rediscover his form and gain momentum for the upcoming tournaments. However, his campaign was cut short due to the unfortunate injury.

The Indian contingent at the Korea Open 2025 is already depleted, with several top players missing the event. Lakshya Sen, the men's doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and PV Sindhu have all withdrawn from the tournament. In their absence, Ayush Shetty and Anupama Upadhyaya are leading the Indian challenge in the men's and women's singles, respectively. Kiran George is also participating in the men's singles, while Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan are representing India in mixed doubles.

Ayush Shetty, the 22-year-old from Mangalore, has been a bright spot for Indian badminton this year, winning the US Open title, a Super 300 tournament. He is considered a promising young talent and has recorded victories against top players. In the first round of the Korea Open 2025, Shetty is facing Su Li-yang of Chinese Taipei.

Anupama Upadhyaya, is carrying India's hopes in the women's singles. She is up against a tough opponent in the first round, facing Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani.

The absence of key players like Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who won the Korea Open in 2023, is a significant blow to India's chances. Their absence puts more pressure on the remaining players to perform well and make their mark.

HS Prannoy's recent struggles with his health have been well-documented. He was diagnosed with chikungunya ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which affected his performance. Although he recovered in time to participate in the Olympics, the effects of the disease have lingered, forcing him to withdraw from several tournaments, including the Japan Open 2024 and Korea Open 2024. Prannoy has also dealt with stomach disorders and back injuries in the past.