It left the task of continuing India’s impressive run in the tournament on the young shoulders of Lakshya and the experienced pair of Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth. The country has not returned empty handed from the world since the 2011 edition.
It was Srikanth and Lakshya who ensured India’s presence on the podium in 2021, when they finished with a silver and a bronze respectively, but this time the ground will be much stronger than last year.
It disappeared in 2021 along with Japan’s Kento Momota and the Indonesian pair of Jonathan Christie and Anthony Ginting. But this time there has been no such withdrawal.
Also, looking at their exploits in recent months, the Indian male shuttlers will also have high expectations.
After winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal on debut, a confident Lakshya has been on a sensational run this season and will enter the top event as one of the favourites.
The 20-year-old, who was disappointed after not being able to cover the distance in Spain, will try to make up for his unfinished business when he opens against Danish legend Hans-Kristian Solberg Wittingus.
Lakshya’s shares have been rising since his return from Huelva in December as he won his maiden Super 500 title at the India Open, finished with a silver at the All England Championships, before joining hands with Srikanth and Prannoy to give India their first title. First Thomas Cup victory. May.
However, all three will become enemies this week after being clubbed in the same quarter.
In fact, ninth seed Lakshya could clash with Prannoy in the third round if the senior supporters manage to beat former world number one and second seed Momota in the second round.
Prannoy has been one of the most consistent players in the circuit this season with quarter-finals, three semi-finalists and a runner-up, and he will be itching to continue his impressive run.
The 30-year-old Indian is known for his giant-killing exploits and comes into the event after a recent twin victory over world number four Chou Tien Chen, and will envision his chances against Momota, who has since The same player hasn’t seen his car crash two years ago.
12th seed Srikanth was sensational in Bangkok and it was his unbeaten run that played a huge role in India’s Thomas Cup win, but the former world No. 1’s confidence shattered after losing twice to upcoming Malaysian Ng Tje Yong .
Commonwealth Games
However, he recovered to return with a bronze medal from the Commonwealth Games and will have to do his best when he faces the likes of Nhat Nguyen of Ireland and Zhao Jun Peng of China in Tokyo.
If Srikanth clears the initial hurdles, world number 5 Malaysian Lee Jia Jia will advance to the quarter-finals.
2019 World Championships bronze medalist B Sai Praneeth is also in the fray and will face Taiwan’s Chow Tien Chen.
The former Singapore Open champion will try to exorcise his exorcism in Tokyo, where he battled without a proper coach or physio, facing a series of defeats for an early exit from the Olympics last year.
All eyes will also be on Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who won India’s first gold medal in men’s doubles at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month.
The world number 7 pair, who won the India Open title in January and were a key force in the Thomas Cup victory, received a bye in the first round, but Malaysian 13th seeds Goh Wei Shem and Tan Wei Keong in the second. expected to clash. Round.
Away from all the limelight there will be a certain Saina Nehwal, who was once the highlight of all eyes.
The decorated shuttler has silver and bronze from the Worlds but has, lately, been looking a dim shadow of himself, after a series of below-par performances due to both injuries and a lack of form.
The 32-year-old from Hyderabad registered a stunning victory over China’s He Bingjiao as she reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 16 months at the Singapore Open and will try her best when she opens against Hong Kong’s Cheung Ngan Yi.
The pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy, among others, and
In women’s doubles, Gopichand and Tresa Jolly are also in the fray. The pair are Commonwealth Games bronze medalists in 2018 and 2022.
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