Aakarshi enters Thailand Open 2025 pre-quarters

Aakarshi, seized the upper hand with a 21-16 win in the opening game, before edging Sugiyama 22-20 in the decider

Hyderabad: Aakarshi Kashyap of India defeated Japan’s Kaoru Sugiyama, an opponent placed 11 spots higher, to book her spot in the Thailand Open 2025 pre-quarters on Wednesday.

Aakarshi, 23, seized the upper hand with a 21-16 win in the opening game, before edging Sugiyama 22-20 in the decider. Elsewhere, Unnati Hooda’s impressive May continued with a battling opening round victory over Thailand’s Thamonwan Nithiittikrai.

The 17-year-old had recently reached the Taipei Open 2025 semi-final, her first such milestone in a Super 300 or above rated tournament outside India.