The Badminton Asia Championships 2024 is set to be a thrilling event, with top shuttlers from across the globe competing for glory. For India, the spotlight will be on PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and HS Prannoy, who are expected to lead the country’s charge in the absence of the world No. 1 doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
Will the trio of Sindhu, Lakshya, and Prannoy succeed?
PV Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist, has shown signs of regaining her old touch. She had a standout performance at the Badminton Asia Team Championships, where Indian women beat Thailand 3-2 in a thrilling final to win their first-ever gold in the tournament. Sindhu’s victory over World No. 17 Supanida Katethong in the final was particularly impressive. Despite recent struggles with injury, Sindhu’s performance at the team championships demonstrated her resilience and skill.
Lakshya Sen, another promising Indian shuttler, has been making waves on the international circuit. He made two semifinal finishes at the French Open and All England Championships. Despite facing a tough challenge in the form of top seed Shi Yu Qi of China, Sen’s performance at the Asian Games, where he defeated the Chinese in the team championships, will give him confidence.
HS Prannoy, who started 2024 with an impressive performance at the Indian Open, has since experienced a dip in form. Despite this, Prannoy had a memorable year in 2023, winning a bronze medal. With his place in Paris secured, he aims to win a trophy before the multinational event.
The absence of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the world No. 1 doubles pair, is a significant blow to India’s prospects. The duo pulled out of the tournament due to a recurring shoulder injury to Satwik. Despite this setback, the focus will be on the singles stars to step up during the continental individual championships.
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