Malaysia Open LIVE: New season of the BWF Tour is all set to get underway soon. The Malaysia Open, which is the year’s first tournament will begin on 10th January 2023, Tuesday. The Super 1000 tournament is set to feature top Badminton stars across the world. From India, all eyes will be on PV Sindhu as the World No.7 will make a comeback after injury. HS Prannoy too will begin the year as the top ranked Indian male. The Indians will have challenges to overcome in the year’s first tournament. Follow Malaysia Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Malaysia Open LIVE: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen headline India’s action in Malaysia Open 2023, Check India’s challenge at year’s first BWF Tournament
Prannoy and Lakshya Sen to clash in first round
HS Prannoy, who has risen to World No.8 leads India’s Men’s Singles draws. The 30-year old has been one of the most improved players in the last year. However he is unseeded in the tournament and World No.10 Lakshya Sen has been given the eighth seeding in the draws.
Both these players would have hoped to make a deep run in the tournament. However as fate would have it, only one among these two players will make it to the next round. They are placed in the same quarter and are pitted against each other in the very first round of the tournament.
Both these players have however faced each other in the past. They have been involved in five duels so far. Lakshya Sen leads the head-to-head record 3-2. They last met at the Denmark Open and Lakshya sealed a straight game win.
Sindhu faces big test against Carolina Marin
Both Sindhu and Carolina Marin have shared fierce rivalry in the past. However this time both these players are coming off after undergoing struggles with fitness and injuries.
Carolina Marin has been out of action for nearly a year after sufferring knee injuries. She had to undergo surgery and made her miss the Tokyo Olympics. She finally made her return during April last year and won the European Championships straightaway. It was her only title and her next best performance was a runner-up finish at French Open. She is currently ranked World No.9.
Meanwhile, Sindhu won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games last year. Soon after the tournament she went down with a hamstring injury and missed the remainder of the season. She is now aiming to start the new season afresh but faces a big challenge in the form of Marin.
Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth’s form
Few years ago Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth were India’s best players in the Men and Women’s Singles. However their performances of late haven’t been that great as they are slowly slipping down the rankings. Especially Saina Nehwal is struggling at the top level for sometime now.
Saina Nehwal is currently ranked World No.30 in the rankings. In 2022, she managed to reach the quarterfinal of the Singapore Open. This was her best performance. Meanwhile, Srikanth dropped down to No.13 in the rankings. He also failed to win a singles title. He managed to reach the semifinals at Swiss Open, Korea Open and Hylo Open.
Srikanth will begin his campaign against Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto. Saina Nehwal will face Han Yue in the first round.
Malaysia Open LIVE: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen headline India’s action in Malaysia Open 2023, Check India’s challenge at year’s first BWF Tournament
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