By Our Special Correspondent
Focus can be on two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and world championships bronze winner Lakshya Sen once they lead India’s problem on the Badminton Asia Championships, starting right here on Tuesday. A variety of hope will journey on Sen and Sindhu because the duo has been in good kind within the run-up to the continent championships, which is returning after a niche of two years attributable to COVID-19. The prestigious occasion will, nevertheless, lose a little bit of sheen with the withdrawal of an injured HS Prannoy, who had claimed a bronze on the 2018 Wuhan version and is in good kind.
The 20-year-old from Almora has been on a stellar run with title wins at the India Open Super 500 and final appearance at the German Open and All England Championships. Sen had also won a bronze at the 2020 Asia team Championships, besides bagging a gold and bronze at the 2018 and 2016 Asian Junior Championships. The fifth-seeded Indian will be eager to win a medal from the senior tournament but it will be easier said than done as he faces China’s 22-year-old Li Shi Feng, a two-time world junior championships gold medallist, in his opening round.
All eyes will even be on former world champion fourth seed Sindhu, who had scooped a bronze from the 2014 Gimcheon version and is coming into the occasion after securing two Super 300 titles at Syed Modi International and Swiss Open. The World No. 7 Indian can be eagar to pocket one other medal when she begins her marketing campaign towards Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po. Sindhu is more likely to come throughout fifth seeded Chinese He Bing Jiao within the quarterfinals if she will be able to cross the preliminary rounds. World championships silver winner Kidambi Srikanth too has been in good contact although he has been responsible of not in a position to shut out some tight matches.
The seventh-seeded Indian, who won two bronze in the 2016 and 2020 Asia Team Championships but failed to secure an individual medal, will aim to grab the opportunity this time when he opens against Malaysia’s N G Tze Yong. Tokyo Olympian B Sai Praneeth too will eye a good show when he opens against fourth-seeded Jonatan Christie. The focus will also be on London Olympics bronze medalist Saina Nehwal as she looks to claim her fourth medal at the Badminton Asia Championships. Saina has been on a comeback trail after recovering from some nagging injuries and had skipped the selection trials for the upcoming major events such as Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Uber Cup.
The former world primary will look to silence her critics when she begins marketing campaign towards Korea’s Sim Yujin. Among others, Aakarshi Kashyap, who was picked for all of the three main occasions after she emerged as winner within the trials, will face high seed Akane Yamaguchi, whereas Malvika Bansod, who missed out of a berth, will cross swords with Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min. World quantity 7 and third seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will open towards Thailand pair of Apiluk Gaterahong and Natchanon Tulamok. MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila, who not too long ago made it to the Asian Games and Thomas Cup groups after ending on high on the choice trials in New Delhi. The Indian pair can be up towards fourth seeded Indonesian mixture of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in its opening spherical. Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala, who had reached the quarters at Odisha Open Super 100 and German Open Super 300 moreover ending runners-up at Syed Modi International Super 300, will look to offer an excellent account of them.
In ladies’s doubles, India will lack the punch following the withdrawls of N Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa, and Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. While Sikki got injured during the recently-concluded selection trials in New Delhi, Treesa and Gayatri also pulled out at the last minute following an injury to the latter. Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam, and the young pairing of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker will be in the fray in women’s doubles for India. In the mixed doubles, Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Dewangan, Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto will look to go deep in the draw.
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