India Open Super 750: The Host Field the Largest-ever Contingent, with 21 Indians Competing

India is sending its largest-ever team to the 3rd India Open, where PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty will lead the nation’s challenge.

The BWF World Tour event will feature 21 Indian players, comprising three men’s singles, four women’s singles, two men’s doubles, eight women’s doubles, and four mixed doubles pairings.

Although the majority of the top players have confirmed their attendance at the nation’s premier badminton event, it won’t be easy for any of them.

With World No. 1 Shi Yuqi, Indonesian Jonatan Christie, and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen at the top of the seedings in the men’s singles, eight of the top ten men in the world—including the medallists at the Paris Olympics—will compete.

Lakshya, who won here in 2022, will probably face fifth seed Li Shi Feng in the second round, but first he must defeat Weng Hong Yang, another Chinese opponent, with whom he has a 3-3 record, in the first round.

In Round 2, HS Prannoy will play Christie, and in the first round, Priyanshu Rajawat will take on Kodai Naraoka of Japan.

14 of the top 20 women have confirmed their participation, including bronze medallist Gregoria Marisa Tunjung of Indonesia and Olympic champion and World No. 1 An Se Young of Korea.

It won’t be that simple for Malvika Bansod and Aakarshi Kashyap, but at least one Indian is guaranteed a spot in the second round with Sindhu making her competitive comeback following her marriage and been drawn against her countrywoman Anupama Upadhyaya.

Shetty and Rankireddy, who are presently competing in the Malaysia Open, will start their campaign against Man Wei Chong and Kai Wun Tee of Malaysia in an attempt to reclaim their top spot in the world rankings.

Due to Satwik’s shoulder injury, the two have only competed in one competition since the Olympics in Paris. Since the competition was changed to a Super 750 event in 2023 as part of the BWF World Tour, these are the only ones who have advanced to the medal round.