Malaysia Open: PV Sindhu returns to lead Indian contingent after Commonwealth Games

The two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will return to lead the Indian contingent at the Malaysia Open for the first time since her golden run at the Commonwealth Games 2022.

The 27-year-old Sindhu, who is making a comeback from an ankle injury, will face a tough challenge as she is set to face former world champion Carolina Marin of Spain.

The battle, which is scheduled on January 11, will be quite interesting as Marin won the last three clashes against Sindhu. The Spanish star also leads the head-to-head record against the Indian 9-5.

Meanwhile, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen will aim to start the season on a positive note. With ranking points at stake, the Indian shuttlers will join the big names including the world number one Viktor Axelsen, Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, Akane Yamugachi, and Tai Tzu ying in the USD 1,250,000 Super 1000 tournament.

The world number 10 Sen will clash with compatriot and world number eight Prannoy in the opening round.

Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth will start his campaign against Japan’s unseeded Kenta Nishimoto. In the men’s doubles, world number five and CWG gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will face South Korea’s Choi Sol-gyu and Kim Wan-ho in the first round.

In women’s singles, Saina Nehwal, Aakarshi Kashyap and Malvika Bansod are also in the fray. Nehwal will meet China’s unseeded Han Yue, Kashyap will play against Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Wen-chi and Malvika will face second seed An Se-young of Korea.

Commonwealth Games 2022 bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will meet Hong Kong’s Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam in the first round, while Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam will play against Thailand’s Supissara Paewsampran and Putita Supajirakul.

India’s mixed doubles pair Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto will meet Netherland’s Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek in the first round.