Thursday, 14 Nov 2024

BWF News

A year after a tough defeat in the final, Lee Chong Wei, the world’s number one badminton player, is determined to reclaim the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Superseries title that he won in 2011. This Malaysian champion is a force to be reckoned with in Men’s Singles. On the other hand, all eyes will be on Saina Nehwal, the top seed and home hope, in Women’s Singles.

Lee faced some challenges in the 2012 India Open due to a shoulder injury, but he still made it to the final. However, he was not at his best and made some uncharacteristic mistakes. Fans are excited to see him back in action and hope to witness his incredible skills on full display.

Taufik Hidayat from Indonesia, currently ranked 26th, is also a popular figure in India. While he hasn’t achieved much in recent times, there is still a keen interest in his performance. Unfortunately for the home fans, he will face local hero Kashyap Parupalli, the fifth seed, in the first round. It will be a bittersweet moment for the fans, as they know this may be Hidayat’s last appearance in a Superseries event.

Parupalli holds a special place in the hearts of Indian badminton fans as he was the first Indian Men’s Singles player to break into the top ten after Pullela Gopichand. The India Open holds particular significance for him, as it was here that he started his remarkable journey to the top ten last year. In a thrilling match against Thai veteran Boonsak Ponsana, he fought back from being two match points down to secure victory. This win kept his Olympic dreams alive as he went on to represent India in the London Olympics. With his confidence soaring, Parupalli continued to impress in various tournaments, eventually breaking into the top-15 rankings at the start of 2013. Seeded fifth in this tournament, he is determined to defeat Hidayat for the first time in seven meetings.

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Besides these prominent players, Jan O Jorgensen from Denmark (ranked 4th) and Chen Yuekun from China are expected to make a strong showing. Chen, currently ranked 33, has been consistently performing well, winning the Macau Open GP Gold last December and reaching the semifinals of the All England earlier this year. Another player to watch out for is Japan’s Kento Momota, who will face India’s Sai Praneeth in the first round.

In the Women’s Singles category, all eyes will be on Indian superstar Saina Nehwal as she faces her younger teammate PV Sindhu, who is in the same quarter. Sindhu’s recent impressive performances at the Badminton Asia Confederation championships have put her in the spotlight. Other world-class players in the draw include Juliane Schenk from Germany (ranked 2nd), Minatsu Mitani from Japan (ranked 4th), Eriko Hirose from Japan (ranked 6th), and Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand (ranked 3rd), who defeated Nehwal in the All England semi-finals. Although the top Chinese players are absent, their young players, such as Yao Xue and Yu Sun, have the potential to cause upsets.

The doubles events also promise thrilling action, with notable pairs such as Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter-Juhl from Denmark (ranked 2nd) and Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna from Japan (ranked 4th) in Women’s Doubles. In Men’s Doubles, the top-five pairs, including the favorites Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen from Denmark (ranked 1st), will battle it out on the court. The qualifiers include three Indian pairs and one Indian-Malaysian pair.

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HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The Men’s Singles qualifying spots were dominated by Indian players, with Chetan Anand, Arvind Bhat, HS Prannoy, and Subhankar Dey securing the four spots.
  • In Women’s Singles, the qualifying spots were taken by Trupti Murgunde, Saili Rane, Ruthvika Shivani, and Rituparna Das, all from India.

In summary, the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Superseries promises to be an exciting tournament with top-ranked players from around the world competing for glory. Badminton enthusiasts can look forward to witnessing intense matches and exceptional performances on the court. Don’t miss out on the action and stay tuned for updates on the Carnegiecentre.com website.