Indian badminton stars Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu are set to return to action in the highly anticipated Denmark Open 2024, scheduled to take place from October 15 to 20 at Arena Fyn in Odense, Denmark. This Super 750 tournament, with a prize pool of $850,000, marks the thirtieth event on the 2024 BWF World Tour.
Tough draw for Lakshya Sen in Men’s Singles
Lakshya Sen, India’s leading hope in the men’s singles, faces a challenging draw in the tournament. He is set to face China’s Lu Guang Zu in the opening round, with the potential of encountering world-class opponents in the later stages. If he progresses, Lakshya could face Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie in the second round and reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand in the quarter-finals.
Lakshya’s form will be under scrutiny after his recent defeat in the Arctic Open, where he squandered a one-game lead to lose against Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei. While Lakshya did manage a walkover in the first round there, his early exit is a reminder of the competition’s intensity, and he will need to bring his A-game to thrive in Denmark.
PV Sindhu set to take on Pai Yu Po
In the women’s singles, PV Sindhu will look to bounce back after a first-round loss in the Arctic Open. Sindhu, who was defeated by Canada’s Michelle Li, faces Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po in the first round of the Denmark Open. If she advances, Sindhu could meet China’s Han Yue in the second round, making her path to the later stages a challenging one.
Sindhu’s recent form has raised concerns, and this tournament presents an opportunity for her to regain momentum ahead of a busy schedule of tournaments leading to the BWF World Championships
Strong Indian Contingent in Women’s Singles at Denmark Open
Apart from Sindhu, three other Indian women shuttlers will compete in the singles draw. Malvika Bansod will face Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh, and if she progresses, she could set up an all-Indian clash against Aakarshi Kashyap, who is up against Thailand’s Supanida Katethong in the first round.
Additionally, young Unnati Hooda will take on Lauren Lam from the USA in the first round.
No Men’s doubles representation for India
Unfortunately, India will not have any representation in men’s doubles, as Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, India’s premier men’s doubles pair, have withdrawn from the tournament. The duo has yet to return to competitive action following their disappointing quarter-final exit at the Paris Olympics 2024.
India’s Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Teams ready
In women’s doubles, India will be represented by two pairs. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand face a tough challenge against fifth-seeded Pearly Tan and Thinnah Muralitharan. Meanwhile, the Panda sisters, Swetaparna and Rutaparna, will take on Chang Ching Hui and Yang Ching Tung of Chinese Taipei.
In mixed doubles, B Sumeeth Reddy and Sikki Reddy are set to face Canada’s Kevin Lee and Eliana Zhang, while Sathish Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath will take on the Indonesian duo of Rehan Kusharjanto and Lisa Kusumawati.
Crucial Test for India’s shuttlers
As the Denmark Open 2024 approaches, Indian badminton players will be looking to make their mark on the international stage.
With the BWF World Championships on the horizon, a strong performance in this Super 750 event will be crucial for building confidence and form as they prepare for the challenging road ahead.
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