Indian Badminton Team Faces Challenges at Korea Open 2026

As the Korea Open 2026 approaches, the Indian badminton team is set to face significant challenges with several top players opting out. Veteran HS Prannoy and promising talent Tanvi Sharma will lead a smaller squad, aiming to make an impact despite the absence of key athletes like PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen. With a history of success at this tournament, the team hopes to overcome obstacles and perform well. Read on to discover more about the players and their aspirations at this prestigious event.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 2, 2026, 23:57 IST

Indian Contingent at Korea Open 2026

The Korea Open 2026 is set to commence on Tuesday at Jinnam Stadium in South Korea, with veteran Indian badminton player HS Prannoy and rising star Tanvi Sharma leading a reduced Indian squad. Several top athletes from India have chosen to skip this BWF Super 500 tournament.

As reported by Olympics.com, notable absentees include two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, men's doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with the talented men's singles player Lakshya Sen, who recently triumphed at the Hylo Open.

Following Sen's withdrawal, Prannoy stands as India's only representative in men's singles. The former world No. 6, now ranked 38th, will kick off his tournament against South Korea's Yoo Tae-bin, a bronze medalist from the Asian Games.

At 34, Prannoy has faced a challenging season, having advanced past the second round only once in 14 BWF events. His most notable performance this year was reaching the semifinals at the Vietnam Open in September.

In women's singles, India will rely on Tanvi Sharma and Anmol Kharb. Tanvi aims to continue her successful run after securing her first BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open earlier this year.

Malvika Bansod and Ashmita Chaliha, who previously won the Korea Masters title, were also slated to compete but have since withdrawn.

In men's doubles, the Indian representation is limited to Arjun Reddy Pochana and Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu, who will start their journey in the qualifying rounds.

For women's doubles, Ritika Thaker and Sonali Singh will take the court, while Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K will participate in the mixed doubles main event.

India has a history of success at the Korea Open, with Sindhu winning the women's singles title in 2017 and the men's doubles team of Rankireddy and Shetty clinching the title in 2023.

India's Squad for Korea Open 2026:

Men's Singles: HS Prannoy

Men's Doubles: Arjun Reddy Pochana-Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu (qualifying)

Women's Singles: Tanvi Sharma, Anmol Kharb

Women's Doubles: Ritika Thaker-Sonali Singh

Mixed Doubles: Dhruv Rawat-Maneesha K.