After India Open, Indian badminton players will play in Indonesia Masters, forgetting defeat, hoping for strong performance
Jakarta. India’s top shuttlers, including Lakshya Sen, will look to overcome their India Open disappointment with a strong show at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 tournament, starting here on Tuesday. The performance of the Indian players in the India Open played in New Delhi was disappointing. The early exits of PV Sindhu, Sen and injuries to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy ended the Indian challenge in the second round itself.
With Sindhu and Satwik and Chirag not participating in the Indonesia Masters, all eyes will be on Sen for the Indians. The 21-year-old will take on Kodai Naroka, who is in fine form at the moment, in the first round. HS Prannoy had also lost to Sen in the first round of the India Open. He will try to do well here. In the first round, he will face Kanta Suniyama of Japan. World Championship 2021 silver medalist Kidambi Srikanth will also try to make a comeback here.
His first match will be against Shesar Hiren Rustavito of Indonesia. Saina Nehwal will look to start on a good note with a win over Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po in the women’s singles. Malvika Bansod will face a tough challenge from former world champion Ratchanok Intanon in the first round itself. In men’s doubles, Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala will take on Malaysian pair of Tan Qian Meng and Tan Wei Keong in their opening match.
N Sikki Reddy and Shruti Mishra, Harita Manjhil H and Ashna Roy and Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam will challenge India in women’s doubles. In the mixed doubles, Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Cresto will be the Indian dominant force.
