The dynamic duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are set to reignite India’s hopes at the Singapore Open Super 750 tournament starting Tuesday, marking their return to elite badminton after a prolonged injury layoff.
The former world number one men’s doubles pair has been on the sidelines since March after Chirag suffered a back injury during the All England Championships and Satwik struggled with health concerns ahead of the Sudirman Cup. Now declared fully fit, the pair will face Malaysia’s Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal in the opening round.
Their return adds momentum to a strong Indian contingent eager to bounce back after a season marred by fitness issues and early exits.
In men’s singles, H. S. Prannoy, a bronze medallist at the 2023 World Championships, begins his campaign against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke. Prannoy, still recovering from the after-effects of chikungunya, showed glimpses of his trademark grit in Kuala Lumpur but remains on a path to full form.
Another key figure, Lakshya Sen, will aim to silence critics and reverse a disappointing run of four first-round exits this season. Sen, a 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, takes on Lin Chun-Yi in a must-win clash that could define his confidence ahead of the Paris Olympics.
India’s bench strength will also be tested with the likes of Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George, both 23 and 25 respectively, looking to overturn their inconsistent form. George faces China’s Weng Hong Yang, while Rajawat will try to snap a six-match losing streak in the opening rounds.
In women’s singles, P. V. Sindhu leads the charge as she continues her climb back from a hamstring injury sustained in February. The former world champion will take on Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang in the first round. Sindhu has struggled to string together wins since her return, facing early exits at the hands of lesser-ranked opponents.
Other Indian women’s shuttlers face formidable challenges: Anmol Kharb meets Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei, Aakarshi Kashyap draws third seed Han Yue, and Unnati Hooda faces second seed Wang Zhiyi.
India’s women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, seeded eighth, will open against Chang Ching Hui and Yang Ching Tun of Chinese Taipei. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto and Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde are also in action.
With several athletes battling fitness concerns and form slumps, the Singapore Open presents both a challenge and an opportunity, a stage where redemption and resurgence may just begin.
