As the BWF World Championships kick off, Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen, both in peak form, are spearheading India's quest for medals. Another notable pair to watch is the world number 2 duo, Satwiksaraj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, aiming to surpass their bronze achievement from the last edition.
India's history in the championships boasts 13 medals since its commencement in 1977. This tally includes a coveted gold, four silvers, and eight bronze medals. Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone made the nation proud with a bronze in 1983, and ever since 2011, India has consistently bagged at least one medal, with PV Sindhu leading the charge.
Sindhu, the 2019 champion, has been India's star player with five medals. However, recent performances haven't mirrored her past successes. Yet, the spotlight remains on Kidambi Srikanth and Lakshya Sen, following their commendable achievements in 2021 and 2022.
HS Prannoy, after impressive runs at the Malaysia Masters and Australian Open, appears in top form as he faces Finland’s Kalle Koljonen. Another Indian player to watch, Lakshya Sen, begins against Georges Julien Paul of Mauritius, with high hopes resting on his young shoulders.
On the other hand, Srikanth's inconsistent season needs a turnaround, especially with the Paris Olympics looming. His initial match against Japan's Kenta Nishimoto will be pivotal, but his favorable past record against Nishimoto offers a glimmer of hope.
With Indonesia's Anthony Ginting pulling out, Srikanth's path looks slightly less arduous. Sindhu, with multiple medals to her name, awaits the victor between Nozomi Okuhara and Thuy Linh Nguyen.
The duo of Satwik and Chirag stands tall in expectations, especially after their stellar performances in the 2023 season, winning titles at significant events, including the Indonesia Open and Korea Open.
The doubles' sphere sees Indian pairs like Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand, Ashwini Bhat K/Shikha Gautam, and Rohan Kapoor/N Sikki Reddy, poised to make a mark.
Copenhagen is hosting the championships for the fifth time, with the Royal Arena being the chosen venue. Players can expect a challenging physical contest due to the arena's expansive size and slower conditions.
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