Kunlavut Vitidsarn and An Se Younger made a wonderful begin to 2023, profitable titles on the India Open. Few months down the road, the 2 of them would go on to be topped World Champions in Copenhagen. Because the race to Paris 2024 heats up, the 2 defending champions and reigning Worlds gold medallists might be again in New Delhi alongside a galaxy of badminton stars because the capital hosts the 2024 version of the India Open Tremendous 750 ranging from Tuesday.
The India Open has been the prime BWF occasion within the nation for greater than a decade, however final 12 months noticed a major improve because the match was moved as much as Tremendous 750 standing, simply two ranges beneath the highest grade on the World Tour.
For starters, as one of many six Tremendous 750 occasions on the circuit, BWF mandates {that a} group outlined by rankings as ‘Prime Dedicated Gamers’ might be required to play, barring accidents and medical conditions.
As one of many two main occasions in January, particularly initially of an Olympic 12 months, the standard of badminton on the match might be as near world-class as it could possibly get.
From an Indian perspective, for the gamers who journey around the globe in a packed calendar, continually on the transfer, hopping out and in of flights and lodge rooms, India Open offers an opportunity to take pleasure in house consolation.
Fond recollections
For HS Prannoy, India’s high singles shuttler heading into the occasion, which means so much. “To have a match of Tremendous 750 stature is one thing very large for us. Particularly for the followers, they will see a number of high gamers carefully, which doesn’t occur that always, that’s the very best half. There are a number of good recollections related to this match, for me now, there’s a starvation to win it,” the eighth seed, who will begin with a tricky fixture towards Chou Tien Chen, mentioned on Monday.
Prannoy is but to win the match however India Open has a particular place in his coronary heart. He fondly remembers 2013, when he got here by way of qualification to enter the primary draw and get the prospect to face the person he grew up idolising: Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat. And happening to win that match no much less, earlier than taking up Lee Chong Wei. He may not have gained the occasion but, nevertheless it gave him the platform to make a reputation for himself.
“Positively 2013 is particular. To defeat Taufik, after which play Chong Wei was a type of largest moments. Submit that, I haven’t had nice outcomes on the India Open as such. However simply to see a number of identified faces coming to assist you, could be very particular. They don’t at all times get to see us play reside, we go to 18-19 tournaments a 12 months around the globe and solely a type of main occasions is in India. So it looks like house, actually the place you’ve got so many individuals invested in your outcomes, touring to look at us, placing in that effort,” Prannoy advised The Indian Categorical.
Whereas Lakshya Sen hasn’t had the very best of latest runs, India Open 2022 gave him his first Tremendous 500 title as he overcame the World Champion then in Loh Kean Yew. Whereas that was a Covid-impacted match, in 2023 he bought to expertise the house assist even when he couldn’t benefit from it.
“Final 12 months I bear in mind, in my second-round match towards Rasmus Gemke, the gang was continually behind me even once I was down. I used to be enjoying miserably at the moment within the third sport, however the crowd was shouting my title, it’s good to have that feeling,” Lakshya quipped. He’ll tackle a superb buddy Priyanshu Rajawat within the opening spherical as he seems to reignite his hopes of reaching Paris.
For followers, gamers, and even aspiring shuttlers alike, the match is an thrilling prospect, says BAI Basic Secretary Sanjay Mishra. “The usual of the match goes up when all these high gamers come. Even junior shuttlers get to see what’s the stage they need to aspire to. Our gamers also can take pleasure in that native assist. Sadly, in 2022 we couldn’t benefit from that. However it’s a enhance. And this time, with the match being a part of the Olympic qualification cycle, the precise world-class stage might be seen,” Mishra advised this every day.
The attainable flip aspect to that is that, in contrast to prior to now, lots of the native shuttlers outdoors the top-ranking teams would possibly miss out. However Mishra says it’s crucial to see this stage of competitors for a benchmark to be set. “It means our gamers even have to extend their rankings, and higher their coaching to make the lower. You possibly can’t be glad simply getting entries to Syed Modi Tremendous 300 and be pleased. We’re internet hosting 7 worldwide tournaments, and there are actually sufficient possibilities to earn rankings at house. And hopefully, sooner or later, we’ll improve India Open to Tremendous 1000 after 2026,” he added.
As a Tremendous 750, which has increased rating factors out there, the organisers don’t must put in an excessive amount of effort to usher in the highest gamers. “When it was Tremendous 500, we used to work additional onerous to ask large names to return and play, attempt to persuade federations and such. That’s the most important distinction during the last two years,” Mishra mentioned.
Indian gamers promoted up
After the affirmation of withdrawals – a listing that bought lengthier than best – the excellent news for the Indian contingent is the promotion of some extra gamers into the primary draw. Kiran George and Satish Kumar Karunakaran (males’s singles), Aakarshi Kashyap (ladies’s singles), Dhruv Kapila-MR Arjun and Krishna Prasad-Sai Pratheek (males’s doubles), Ashwini Bhat-Shikha Gautam and Rutaparna Panda-Swetaparna Panda (ladies’s doubles) have earned an opportunity to play.
However all eyes might be on Satwik-Chirag, contemporary from their wonderful run to the ultimate at Malaysia Open, Prannoy and Lakshya – who may doubtlessly meet within the second spherical – because the Indian contingent seems to make amends for the missed alternative in 2023. The match getting an improve is nice for the sport typically, however to see a house title winner in the long run is the true marker.
Star sights at India Open 2024
Within the lead as much as India Open, the withdrawal of three world No 1s and three different former world champions took some sheen off the energy of the sphere. Outstanding amongst them are Viktor Axelsen and Carolina Marin, each big crowd favourites in Delhi. Flagbearers of Indian badminton for years, each PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal are absent as properly.
However regardless of that, right here’s the cream of the crop that might be in motion:
India’s high stars: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty, HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Srikanth Kidambi
Reigning World Champions: Kunlavut Vitidsarn, An Se Younger, Kang Min Hyuk & Website positioning Seung Jae, Chae Yoo Jung & Website positioning Seung-Jae
Present World No 1: An Se Younger, Liang Wei Keng & Wang Chang
Reigning Olympic Champions: Chen Yufei, Lee Yang & Wang Chi Lin
International superstars: Tai Tzu Ying, Ratchanok Intanon, Akane Yamaguchi, Jonatan Christie, Anthony Ginting, Lee Zii Jia, Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik