Challenging Draw for Indian Badminton Players at Yonex-Sunrise India Open
Overview of the Tournament
Indian badminton athletes face a tough challenge as 2022 champion Lakshya Sen is set to compete against rising star Ayush Shetty in an all-Indian matchup, as per the latest announcement.
Former world champion PV Sindhu will kick off her campaign against Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen during the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Super 750 tournament, scheduled at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from January 13 to 18.
This prestigious event, part of the HSBC BWF World Tour, is relocating from the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium to a larger multi-purpose venue within the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex.
Players will have the opportunity to acclimatize to the venue, which will also host the BWF World Championships later this August.
Unfortunately for the Indian team, the draw did not provide an easier start.
Analysis of Indian Singles Draw
From India's perspective, Lakshya's match against former world junior bronze medallist Ayush Shetty means that only three out of four Indian men's singles players will have a shot at advancing to the next round. The winner of this clash is likely to face fourth seed Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei or Japan's Kenta Nishimoto.
In another matchup, former world number one Kidambi Srikanth will compete against Lin Chun-Yi, a member of the 2024 Taipei Thomas Cup bronze-winning team and currently ranked 12th in the world. A potential second-round match could see him up against Christo Popov, who made history last month as the first French player to win the BWF World Tour Finals men's singles title.
H S Prannoy, who entered the main draw following the withdrawal of Denmark's Anders Antonsen, will begin his tournament against last year's finalist Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong.
Women's Singles Matches
In the women's singles, PV Sindhu will face Nguyen, who has previously defeated her in their last two encounters. Nguyen, currently ranked 22nd globally, is recognized as one of the most improved players on the circuit last year. If Sindhu progresses, she may encounter second seed Wang Zhi Yi or her compatriot Gao Fang Jie in the next round.
Malvika Bansod, returning from a lengthy injury hiatus and competing with her protected ranking, will take on Pai Yu Po from Chinese Taipei in her opening match.
Doubles and Other Notable Matches
In the doubles category, former champions Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy have a relatively straightforward first match against the USA's Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith. Their first significant challenge may arise in the quarter-finals against China's eighth seeds Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi.
Two-time All-England semi-finalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Thailand's Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai, with a potential second-round match against the Chinese seventh seeds Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min.
In another intriguing opening round, top seed An Se Young will compete against former world champion Nozomi Okuhara, while third seed Akane Yamaguchi will face her compatriot Riko Gunji.
First Round Matchups for Indian Players
Men's Singles:
2022 champion Lakshya Sen vs Ayush Shetty
Kidambi Srikanth vs Lin Chun-Yi (TPE) - ranked 12th and part of the 2024 Thomas Cup bronze-winning team
HS Prannoy vs Lee Cheuk Yiu (HKG) - last edition's finalist
Women's Singles:
Malvika Bansod vs Pai Yu Po (TPE)
PV Sindhu vs Thuy Linh Nguyen (VIE) - has lost both previous matches in 2025
Men's Doubles:
Hariharan Amsakarunan/MR Arjun vs Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi (MAS)
Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy vs Chen Zhi Yi/Presley Smith (USA)
Women's Doubles:
Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand vs Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn/Sukitta Suwachai (THA)
Shruti Mishra/Priya Konjengbam vs Lui Lok Lok/Tsang Hiu Yan (HKG)
Rutuparna Panda/Swetparna Panda vs Nanako Hara/Riko Kiyose (JPN)
Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi vs 2-Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (MAS)
Gayatri Rawat/Mansa Rawat vs 4-Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian (CHN)
Mixed Doubles:
Rohan Kapoor/G Ruthvika Shivani vs Marvin Seidel/Thuc Phuong Nguyen (GER)
Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh vs Yuichi Shimogami/Sayaka Hobara (JPN)
Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto vs Pakkapon Teeraratsakul/Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA)
Dhruv Rawat/Maneesha K vs Hiroki Midorikawa/Nami Matsuyama (JPN).