Star shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will lead the Indian contingent at the Arctic Open Super 500 tournament commencing here on Tuesday, as they eagerly look to reclaim their momentum on the international stage following a medal-less outing at the Paris Olympics. (Streaming | More Badminton News)
This tournament marks the first outing for ꧅Sindhu and Sen since the Olympic Games, and they are keen to reset their goals. The duo has reassessed their performa༺nces and implemented changes to regain their rhythm.
Sindhu has roped in Anup Sridhꦕar and Korean legend Lee Syun Il as her new coaches, moving on from her pr🐎evious coach Indonesia's Agus Dwi Santoso.
Sen, who narꦫrowly missed a medal in Paris, spℱent time at the Red Bull Arena in Austria for physical assessment.
In the opening round, Sindhu, who exited in the round of 16 in Paris, will face familiar riva🌸l Canada's Michelle Li, while Sen, who 🌼lost in the bronze medal play-off, will compete against Denmark's Rasmus Gemke.
Double Olymp♒ic medallist Sindhu is favoured to overcome Li and could face 18-year-old Japanese sensation Tomako Miyazaki, the 2022 junior world champion, in the next round, an opponent against whom she lost at the Swiss Open earlier this year.
For Sen, it's a chance for revenge against Gemke, having lost to him at the Ind♚ia Open in 20🔜23. If he overcomes Gemke, he might face seventh-seeded Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei.
Kidambi Srikanth, returning to action at the Macau Open after a four-month injury layoff, will compete in the quaไlifiers alongside younger compatriots Kiran George and Sathish Kumar K🌳arunakaran.
Former world number one Srikanth is set to face George, while Sathi𒁃sh will battle against France's Arnaud Merkle.
In women's singles, besides🙈 Sindhu, in-form Malvika Bansod and Aakarshi Kashyap are also in conteꦏntion.
Malvika, who reached the quaterfinals at the China Open Super 1000, will open against World No. 24 Sung Shuo Yun of Chinese Taipei, while Aakarshi will be up against Yvonne Li o🐭f Germany in the first round💯.
Ano🌺💯ther promising player, Unnati Hooda, who won the 2022 Odisha Masters, will take on Heli Neiman of Israel in the qualifiers.
While there is no In𒀰dian representꦛation in men's doubles, Rituparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda will compete in women's doubles, and Sathish will partner with Aadya Variyath in mixed doubles.
