The India Open Super 750 badminton tournament kicks off this week in New Delhi, and it promises to be an exciting event. This year, India is fielding its largest-ever team. Some of the biggest names in Indian badminton will compete, including PV Sindhu, who is starting her season at home after her wedding. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who were last year’s finalists, hope to go all the way this time. Lakshya Sen is also in the mix, eager for his first win of the season. There are many young players ready to showcase their skills, making this a thrilling time for Indian badminton.
The India Open has gained importance as a Super 750 event, which means it’s now a must-attend for top players. Since 2022, no Indian has won this title, so expectations are high. Sixteen of the top twenty men and thirteen of the top twenty women will compete, raising the competition level. However, the tournament has seen some withdrawals, including defending champion Shi Yu Qi. Indian players will face tough matches right from the start, but performing at home with cheering fans can be a big boost.
Men’s Singles
Lakshya Sen aims to bounce back from a challenging season opener. He will face Lin Chun-Yi, against whom he has a 0-1 record. If he wins, he could take on Christo Popov next. HS Prannoy showed promise last week after more than five months out due to injury and will face Li Yang Su in his first match. He is on track to face second seed Jonatan Christie and might meet Lakshya in the quarterfinals.
Priyanshu Rajawat is another player to watch, but he has a tough match against sixth seed Kodai Naraoka. Kidambi Srikanth, former world No. 1, returns to the circuit after injury and will play Hong Yang Weng. Srikanth has a solid head-to-head record against him. Kiran Goerge, promoted from reserves, will compete against Yushi Tanaka.
Men’s Doubles
All eyes are on the pairing of Satwik and Chirag, who reached the finals last year. They face Wei Chong Man and Kai Wun Tee in the opening round with a strong head-to-head advantage. A potential quarterfinal clash against their old rivals Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen could be thrilling, especially after their last encounter ended with Chirag calling out their on-court antics.
Women’s Singles
The highlight here is PV Sindhu’s return after a break for her wedding and recovery. She faces Sung Shuo Yun first and is looking for a strong start. Sindhu hopes to regain her top form, having struggled recently but always being a contender. The road won’t be easy for other Indian players; Anupama Upadhyaya will meet Rakshita Sree in an all-Indian clash, and Malvika Bansod takes on third seed Han Yue.
Women’s Doubles
With nine pairs in the draw, the women’s doubles event is packed. The fifth-seeded team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand starts against Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Ayako Sakuramoto, while seventh seeds Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa face compatriots Kavya Gupta and Radhika Sharma. Both seeded teams are aiming for a strong performance at home.
Mixed Doubles
In mixed doubles, several Indian pairs are competing, including Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto. While there are no seeded Indian teams, this presents an opportunity for surprises and potential upsets.