Indonesia Masters 2023: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy to Lead Indian Challenge in Absence of Satwik-Chirag and PV Sindhu

Top Indian shuttlers, including Lakshya Sen, will look to quickly recover from the India Open disappointment when they begin their campaign at the Indonesia Masters Super 500 tournament, starting here on Tuesday.

India cut a sorry figure at home as the country’s challenge ended in the second round following the early exits of P V Sindhu, Sen, and the withdrawal of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy due to a hip injury last week.

While Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag are not playing this week, Sen will look to get back his mojo after his second-round exit against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke.

A tough battle will be on the cards for the 21-year-old from Almora as he faces the fast and furious Kodai Naroka, who has been in sensational form, having reached the finals of the Malaysia Open.

The Japanese, who is from the same 2018 batch as Sen, has a 3-1 career record against the Indian, having beaten him at the Denmark Open last October.

Eighth seed HS Prannoy, too, will look for a good show after a first-round exit against Sen in the India Open. He had reached the quarterfinals in Malaysia and will take on Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama, a tricky customer, in his opener.

2021 World Championships silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth looked good against Viktor Axelsen before he imploded in the second game to go down in another first round this year.

The former world No. 1 will look for redemption when he opens against Indonesia’s Shesar Hiren Rhustavito.

In women’s singles, Saina Nehwal will hope for a good outing when she crosses swords with Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po in the opening round. The London Olympics bronze medallist had made it to the second round at India Open.

Malvika Bansod will open against former world champion Ratchanok Inthanon.

In men’s doubles, Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala will carry the Indian challenge when they take on Malaysia’s Tan Kian Meng and Tan Wee Kiong in their opener.

M R Arjun and Dhruv Kapil will miss the event due to an injury to the former.

N Sikki Reddy and Shruti Mishra, Haritha Manazhiyil H and Ashna Roy, Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam are in the fray in women’s doubles.

The mixed doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto will meet third seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue from France.