P.V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will lead India’s challenge in the Syed Modi International Super 300 badminton competition, which begins on Tuesday. Changes are being discussed in Indian badminton, particularly the future of women’s singles after two-time Olympic medalist and previous world champion PV Sindhu was eliminated in the final 16 stage of the Paris Olympics. The 29-year-old is back in action following her Olympic disappointment.
But she has failed to regain her prime form. Last month, she lost in the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open. She lost in the round of 16 in the China Masters last week, coming off a second-round loss at the Japan Masters the week before. Sindhu will seek home comfort when she competes for a third title in the Syed Modi India International, which begins on Tuesday.
A reduced field is unlikely to pose a real threat to her, with India’s Malvika Bansod, the world No.36, as the second seed. In this Super 300 event, the 32-player draw includes 13 lower-ranked foreign players. Lakshya Sen will aim to win his first title here. The bronze medalist from the 2021 World Championships won his last title in the Canada Open in 2023.
India pins its hopes on Sindhu and Lakshya
Lakshya, 23, has had a consistent year, reaching the semifinals of the All England Championships, the French Open, and the Paris Olympics, where he lost the bronze medal playoff to Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia. The promising Priyanshu Rajawat, who lost in the first round of the China Masters, is the second seed. Other Indians include third-seeded Kiran George, and bronze medalist Ayush Shetty in the 2023 World Junior Championships.
Odisha Masters winner Sathish Karunakaran, and National Champion Chirag Sen. Former world number one pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty lead the men’s doubles lineup, while top seeds Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto and second seeds Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly are championship hopefuls in the women’s division.
