Veteran Indian Shuttlers Deliver Strong Performances at India Open
Indian badminton fans witnessed a thrilling day of action at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. Veteran players Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy rolled back the years to secure their spots in the men's singles second round at the India Open 2026. Meanwhile, young talent Tanvi Sharma impressed everyone with her spirited performance, even though she faced an opening-round loss in the women's singles.
Gritty Wins for Experienced Campaigners
The BWF World Tour Super 750 event, organized by the Badminton Association of India, saw contrasting but equally determined displays from Srikanth and Prannoy. Both players overcame younger opponents in matches that highlighted their resilience and skill.
Kidambi Srikanth, the former world number one, faced a tough challenge against compatriot Tharun M. The 32-year-old started slowly and dropped the first game 15-21. However, he bounced back emphatically, dominating the second game 21-6. In a tense decider, Srikanth trailed 17-19 before producing a brilliant spell at the net. He won four consecutive points to clinch the match 21-19 in 53 minutes. This victory marks his first Super 750 event since Singapore in May 2025. Srikanth will next face France's Christo Popov.
HS Prannoy, aged 33, delivered a significant win over Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk Yiu, last year's runner-up. Prannoy's 2025 season was marred by fitness issues, making this triumph especially sweet. He earned a main draw spot after world number three Anders Antonsen of Denmark withdrew. Prannoy showed remarkable resilience, saving two game points in the opening game to win 22-20. He then used powerful down-the-line smashes and patient rallying to secure the second game 21-18. Ranked 38th globally, Prannoy will now meet former world champion and eighth seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore, who defeated China's Wang Zheng Xing in three games.
Mixed Fortunes in Women's Singles
The women's singles category presented a mix of results for Indian players. Malvika Bansod emerged as the sole Indian winner, defeating Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-19. However, two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion PV Sindhu suffered a disappointing exit. She lost to Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in a hard-fought match, with scores of 20-22, 21-12, 21-15.
Teenager Tanvi Sharma Shows Promise
Sixteen-year-old Tanvi Sharma, a world junior championships silver medallist, showcased her immense potential against second seed Wang Zhi Yi of China. Playing her first Super 750 event, Tanvi pushed the Chinese star to three games. She narrowly missed a game point in the opener, losing 20-22, but fought back to take the second game 21-18. Fatigue set in during the decider, resulting in a 21-13 loss. Despite the defeat, her performance highlighted a bright future for Indian badminton.
The India Open 2026 continues to deliver exciting matches, with fans eagerly watching how the Indian contingent fares in the upcoming rounds.
