Fresh off his first-ever World Championships bronze medal, Indian badminton sensation HS Prannoy is all set to lead India's charge at the upcoming China Open Super 1000 Tournament. Joining him will be Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen, who is keen to regain his top form ahead of the Asian Games. The tournament commences this Tuesday, offering the players a crucial opportunity to test their skills against top international competitors.
Notably absent in the women's singles category is Indian star PV Sindhu, who has withdrawn last-minute to focus on her preparation for the Asian Games. Sindhu, a silver medalist at the previous Asian Games, was initially slated to compete against Korea's Kim Ga Eun.
HS Prannoy: A Rising Star in Indian Badminton
Kerala-born Prannoy, whose performance at the recent World Championships catapulted him to a career-best world ranking of No. 6, will begin his China Open journey against Malaysia's Ng Tze Yong. If Prannoy clears the first round, he could face a challenging match against world No. 4 and third-seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand—a player he has yet to beat in their previous two encounters. Should he make it to the quarter-finals, Prannoy may meet Indonesia's Jonatan Christie, and possibly set the stage for a riveting semi-final against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen.
Lakshya Sen: Aiming for Redemption
Lakshya Sen, meanwhile, will be keen to bounce back from his disappointing performance at last month's World Championships in Copenhagen. He will start his campaign against Denmark's Anders Antonsen. Sen faces a potentially difficult path ahead, with the possibility of encountering seventh-seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the round of 16, and top-seeded Axelsen in the quarter-finals.
Other Indian Participants
Priyanshu Rajawat is another Indian player in the men's singles main draw, facing Indonesia's Shesar Hiren Rhustavito in the opening round. In the men's doubles category, the Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, seeded second, aim to overcome their recent World Championships disappointment. They will open against Indonesia's Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana.
Women's Doubles: The Spotlight on Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand
In the women's doubles category, the Indian pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will be facing top-seeded Chinese duo Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan. This match comes just two weeks after their previous face-off in the World Championships.
As the China Open Super 1000 Tournament gets underway, Indian badminton fans are eager to see how these athletes perform on this prominent international stage. With the Asian Games on the horizon, this tournament serves as a crucial proving ground for India's top badminton talent.
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(With PTI inputs, powered by AI)
