The Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2024 kicks off Tuesday at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, promising a thrilling spectacle with the world’s best badminton talent in action. Elevated to a prestigious Super 750 event, the tournament offers a fresh start for Indian stars Lakshya Sen and P.V. Sindhu, who are eager to put a challenging 2024 behind them.
Lakshya and Sindhu Aim for Comebacks
Lakshya Sen, who won the India Open in 2022 when it was a Super 500 event held behind closed doors, is keen to recapture that success in front of home fans. Reflecting on his form after a first-round exit at the Malaysia Open last week, Sen said, “The fire continues to burn inside, and I hope to come back stronger starting here and leading up to the next Olympics. It will be a tough season ahead, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
Sindhu, returning to competition after a break and her recent marriage, is optimistic about her chances. The last Indian woman to win this title in 2017, she now trains under new coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama. “This one is definitely special because I didn’t play the last two editions due to injuries. I am mentally and physically ready to give my best,” she said, now set to face Shuo Yun Sung of Chinese Taipei in her opener.
Doubles Hope: Chirag and Satwik
The Indian men’s doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, ranked World No. 9, enter the tournament as strong contenders. Under the guidance of their returning coach, Malaysian Tan Kim Her, the duo aims to go one step further after finishing runners-up last year. “To play in front of that kind of crowd was incredible. We want to go deep in every tournament and hopefully win this time,” Shetty said.
Rankireddy, recovering from a persistent shoulder issue, reassured fans of his readiness. “It’s tough playing back-to-back and managing injuries, but things have settled down, and we’re ready.”
Shuffled Draws and New Opportunities
A spate of last-minute withdrawals has reshaped the draw, creating opportunities for Indian players. Kiran George and Srikanth Kidambi were added to the men’s singles main draw after top-seed Shi Yu Qi and Anthony Ginting withdrew. Lakshya Sen now faces World No. 14 Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei.
In women’s singles, Rakshitha Sree Santosh Ramraj replaces Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan, while Sindhu moves to Busanan’s slot. Similarly, Indian women’s doubles pairs Kavya Gupta-Radhika Sharma and Amrutha Pramuthesh-Sonali Singh enter the main draw following withdrawals by international players.
Mixed doubles also sees changes, with Indian pair Tarun Kona and Srikrishna Priya Kudaravalli stepping in after top-seeded Chinese duo Yan Zhe Feng and Dong Ping Huang pulled out.
As the Indian contingent looks to end a title drought at the India Open, fans can expect high-stakes matches and intense competition throughout the tournament. For Lakshya and Sindhu, the event is not just a homecoming but a chance to reignite their careers and set the tone for a challenging season ahead.
