Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag Pair Secure First-Round Byes in BWF World Championships
The stage is set for badminton’s pinnacle event, the BWF World Championships 2023, with Indian shuttlers gearing up for action. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and the dynamic men’s doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have received a boost in the form of first-round byes. The highly anticipated championships are scheduled to take place in Copenhagen, Denmark from August 21 to 27.
Sindhu’s Challenge: Tough Draw Ahead
While the draw has been kind with first-round byes, Sindhu faces a formidable path ahead. The reigning women’s singles world champion of 2019 might find herself clashing with Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon and the top-seeded An Se Young of Korea. Both Intanon and Young are positioned in the top half of the draw, promising a challenging journey for Sindhu. As the lone Indian contender in the women’s singles competition, Sindhu’s determination and skills will be put to the ultimate test.
The men’s doubles tandem of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has been enjoying an outstanding phase in their career. Following their title triumph at the Korea Open, they attained a career-best world no. 2 ranking. With a first-round bye, they enter the BWF World Championships 2023 in peak form and high spirits. Their impressive chemistry and skillful play make them strong contenders to watch out for in the championships.
India’s challenge in men’s singles will be spearheaded by the in-form HS Prannoy. Seeded second in the event, Prannoy is ready to face Kalle Koljonen of Finland. Other Indian singles players, Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth, will also begin their campaigns in the first round, taking on Georges Julien Paul of Mauritius and Kenta Nishimoto of Japan respectively. Prannoy’s consistency over the past year, with his recent Malaysia Masters win and Australian Open runner-up finish, adds to the nation’s hopes.
Doubles Duos in Action
In women’s doubles, India presents two pairs. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will benefit from a first-round bye, while Ashwini Bhat K and Shikha Gautam will face Debora Jille and Cheryl Seinen of the Netherlands. Mixed doubles action will see Rohan Kapoor and N Sikki Reddy pitted against the Scottish pair of Adam Hall and Julie MacPherson. Venkat Prasad and Juhi Dewangan, the other Indian combination, are set to clash with Jones Ralfy Jansen and Linda Efler of Germany.
With 64 shuttlers in the men’s singles category and 48 in women’s singles, the championships promise fierce competition. The tournament hosts 46 teams each in the three doubles events. The top 16 players from the latest world ranking are seeded across the five categories, adding to the excitement and intensity of the tournament. India’s representation features four players in the singles category and six pairs in the doubles, highlighting the nation’s prominence.
