On 5 March 2025, the Palais des Sports in Orléans played host to the first matches of the Orléans Masters Badminton 2025, marking the start of this eagerly-awaited international competition. The Palais des Sports in Orléans was alive with the first exchanges of the Orléans Masters Badminton 2025.
A strong line-up for a high-level competition
The Orléans Masters, ranked in the Super 300 category, attracts internationally renowned players every year. This 2025 edition is no exception, with the presence of top seeds such as Lee Zii Jia, Loh Kean Yew and An Se-young.
Outstanding performances in the first round
The day began with men's singles matches in which the favourites held their own.
Lee Zii Jia, seeded 1, demonstrated his superiority by defeating his opponent with disconcerting ease. Meanwhile, the young French prodigy Alex Lanier, seeded 4, also got through the first round with flying colours.
In the women's draw, South Korean An Se-young, seeded number one, confirmed her status by winning her opening match comfortably. Her compatriot, Ratchanok Intanon, despite being seeded seventh, was upset in the first round, creating the first sensation of the tournament.
Fiery doubles and surprises in store
The doubles events also provided their fair share of entertainment and surprises. In the men's doubles, the Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, seeded second, had to fight hard to overcome their opponents, a testament to the level of the competition.
On the other hand, the Chinese pair He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu, seeded third, were eliminated in the first round.
In the women's doubles, favourites Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee secured their place in the next round, while Japanese pair Laksika Kanlaha and Phataimas Muenwong, seeded third, were eliminated prematurely, much to the dismay of their fans.
An exemplary organisation and a great turnout
The organisation of this first day was praised by all the participants and spectators. The Palais des Sports in Orléans, with a capacity of 3,000, provided the ideal setting for this large-scale competition. Volunteers from all over France contributed to the success of the event, ensuring flawless logistics and a warm welcome for all visitors.
Promising prospects for the rest of the tournament
This first day has set the scene for what promises to be a thrilling competition. The athletes' performances have already provided moments of emotion and suspense, auguring a tournament full of twists and turns. The next few rounds promise to be high-intensity affairs, with duels between the top seeds and the outsiders determined to spring a surprise.The Orléans Masters Badminton 2025 is thus establishing itself as a not-to-be-missed event in the sporting calendar, highlighting the dynamism of the city of Orléans and its passion for sport. Badminton fans can look forward to some unforgettable moments throughout the week of competition, and all in all, the first day has been a success on every level, both sporting and organisational. The foundations have been laid for a memorable edition of the Orléans Masters.
