PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen have been fortunate with the draw, but BWF World Championship silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth may run into Loh Kean Yew of Singapore.
Top seed Srikanth and Kean Yew have been drawn in the same half of the men’s singles draw. They are likely to have a faceoff in the semi-finals. Loh had ended Srikanth’s winning run for the World Championship gold last week.
The Indian Open 2022 will be hosted by the Badminton Association of India from January 11 to 16 in New Delhi.
Two-time Olympics medallist Sindhu and 2021 World Championships bronze medallist Sen have received relatively easy passage in the initial rounds of the $400,000 prize money Super 500 event.
The Indian Open will also mark the start of the 2022 BWF World Tour season.
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New sensation of Indian badminton, Sen will start his campaign against Adham Elgamal of Egypt. He is likely to face World Championships quarter-finalist HS Prannoy in the Last-8 stage. Prannoy is set to kickstart his challenge against Spaniard Pablo Abian.
Second seed B Sai Praneeth would also be looking to start the year on a high as he will take on Span’s Luis Penalver in the opening round and could face Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto in the quarter-finals.
The 11th edition of the prestigious tournament, which is making a return after a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be played at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
“It has been tough two years for all of us but we are very excited to host this tournament once again. Unfortunately, keeping players’ and other stakeholders’ safety as the topmost priority, this mega event will be played without spectators. BAI will ensure execution of this tournament under strict COVID protocols,” BAI General Secretary Ajay Singhania said.
In the women’s singles, top seed PV Sindhu will begin her march towards a first title of the New Year against compatriot Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli. She might face fifth seeded Russian Evgeniya Kosetskaya in the Last-8 stage.
A Sindhu-Saina Nehwal final remains a possibility. But, before that Saina will have to square off against US seventh seed Iris Wang in the quarter-finals and second seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the semi-finals.
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