The BWF World Championships 2023 in Copenhagen is set to commence on August 21, and PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, along with the renowned doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are among the Indian shuttlers who have secured first-round byes.
Sindhu, distinguished as the only Indian player from the Copenhagen team with a World Championships Gold, is slated to compete against the victor of the face-off between Japan's Nozomi Okuhara and Thuy Linh Nguyen in round two. Okuhara's recent form seems off track, recording a dismal 1-6 win-loss ratio this season, a deviation from her former dominant performances.
On advancing, Sindhu might confront 7th seed Ratchanok Intanon in the third round. The challenge intensifies with World No. 1 and top seed An Se Young also in the same quarter. Given Sindhu's recent trend of first-round exits in seven of the 13 BWF World Tour 2023 tournaments, including a surprising early loss at the Japan Open 2023 to China's Zhang Yi Man, her journey might demand exceptional resilience. However, her illustrious track record, boasting of a gold, two silvers, and two bronze medals at World Championships, speaks of her potential to rise to the occasion.
HS Prannoy: India's Beacon in Men's Singles?
HS Prannoy, currently world-ranked ninth and seeded second, leads India's hopes in men's singles. Prannoy is scheduled to play against Kalle Koljonen from Finland in the preliminary stages. Indian counterparts, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth, will be up against opponents from Mauritius and Japan, respectively. With a victorious stint at the Malaysia Masters and a commendable second-place finish at the recent Australian Open, Prannoy has showcased exceptional consistency over the past year. Yet, the presence of top seed Viktor Axelsen in the same half poses a formidable challenge.
Satwik-Chirag Duo & Other Indian Contingents
World No. 2 doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will enjoy a first-round bye. In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also start with a bye, while Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam face the Dutch duo in their first round. Mixed doubles see Indian pairs Rohan Kapoor-N Sikki Reddy and Venkat Prasad-Juhi Dewangan pitted against teams from Scotland and Germany, respectively, in their opening clashes.
The upcoming Championships promise exhilarating performances and challenges for the Indian shuttlers, with the world keenly watching their progress.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
‘Umran Malik will be a sensation’: Legendary Brian Lara has critical piece of advice for India's speed sensation
Brought in as Ihsanullah's replacement, Spencer Johnson wreaks havoc in The Hundred with magical spell
