The Syed Modi International Super 300 badminton tournament witnessed a significant setback for Indian hopes as former World No. 1 men’s doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy withdrew on the opening day.
The duo, strong contenders for the title, cited lingering fitness concerns, particularly Satwiksairaj’s shoulder injury, as the reason behind their decision to give a walkover in their first-round match against China’s Chen Xu Jun and Guo Ruo Han.
Returning to action after a stellar semifinal run at the Super 750 China Masters last week—marking their first tournament since the Paris Olympics—the pair decided to prioritize recovery with an eye on the upcoming season. The demanding schedule and intensity of the China Masters likely influenced their cautious approach.
PV Sindhu Eyes Redemption Amid Poor Form
Amid this disappointment, PV Sindhu remains India’s brightest hope at the tournament. The two-time Olympic medalist, now ranked 19th in the world, is searching for a much-needed resurgence in her form. The 29-year-old has struggled throughout the season, with early exits at the Denmark Open, Japan Masters, and China Masters adding to her woes.
The Syed Modi International, a tournament where she has previously triumphed twice, presents an opportunity for Sindhu to regain confidence. However, her path begins with a challenging first-round clash against 17-year-old Anmol Kharb, who has impressed this year with victories at the Belgium and Poland International Challenge tournaments.
Also competing in the women’s singles main draw are World No. 36 Malvika Bansod, seeded second, and Aakarshi Kashyap, who will look to make the most of a relatively weakened field following several high-profile withdrawals.
Lakshya Sen Leads Men’s Singles Charge
In the men’s singles, India’s challenge will be spearheaded by Lakshya Sen, who faces Malaysian qualifier Sholeh Aidil in his opening round. Sen, a 2021 World Championships bronze medalist, has been working to regain his form after a bronze medal playoff loss at the Paris Olympics. The 23-year-old last tasted title success at the 2023 Canada Open and will aim to silence doubts about his mental toughness.
Second seed Priyanshu Rajawat, fresh off a first-round exit at the China Masters, and Kartikeya Gulshan Kumar also represent India’s hopes in the men’s draw.
The $210,000 event, hosted at Lucknow’s Babu Banarasi Das Academy, opened with qualifying rounds in singles and mixed doubles. While the absence of Chirag-Satwik is a significant blow to India’s title chances, the focus now shifts to the singles stars, who will look to capitalize on the home advantage and a depleted field to deliver standout performances.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on whether India’s top shuttlers can rise to the occasion and bring home titles amid a challenging season.
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