Bangladesh shuttler Gourab defies 207-rank gap to shock Australian Irusumalla

Three-time national champion Gourab Singha stood out among Bangladesh shuttlers at the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge 2025, advancing to the round of 32 with a convincing straight-games win over higher-ranked Australian Pushkal Irusumalla in Paltan, Dhaka on Wednesday.

World No. 676 Gourab beat Irusumalla (469) 21-12, 21-11 on an otherwise disappointing day for the hosts at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium.

Top local players, including current national champion Khandokar Abdus Soad (353), Shwi Ching Mong Marma (534) and Sifat Ullah (633), were eliminated in their opening main-draw matches.

"It is always pleasant to win an international match, and I want to carry this momentum forward as I will also be playing the men's doubles," said Gourab, who clinched National Badminton Championship titles from 2020 to 2022.