Lakshya Sen, Satwik-Chirag pull out of Japan Open following Paris 2024 Olympics heartbreak
Several top Indian badminton players have opted out of the upcoming Japan Open 2024 Super 750 tournament, taking a brief hiatus following their efforts at the Paris Olympics.
Among those withdrawing are singles contenders Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and HS Prannoy, alongside doubles teams Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty and Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand. The decision comes after a challenging Olympic campaign where Indian shuttlers failed to win a medal.
Lakshya Sen finished fourth in men’s singles, narrowly missing out on a medal after a hard-fought battle. PV Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medalist, faced an unexpected early exit in the first elimination round, as did HS Prannoy, who struggled with illness during the competition.
The men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, also seen as strong contenders, were similarly knocked out in the early stages, marking a disappointing Olympic outing for the Indian badminton contingent.
Lakshya Sen has returned to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru to resume training. Meanwhile, PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy are focusing on recovery and rest after their early exits from the Tokyo Olympics.
Regarding the foreign contenders, Carolina Marin is sidelined due to injury, while He Bing Jiao has retired from the sport. The mixed doubles duo of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping have also withdrawn.
However, Olympic bronze medalists Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino are set to defend their titles. The competition will feature world champions Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung, Olympic silver medalists Kim Won Ho and Jeong Na Eun, and Indonesia Open champions Jiang Zheng Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
Who will represent India at the Japan Open 2024?
Despite these withdrawals, India will still be represented at the Japan Open. Kiran George leads the charge in men's singles, joined by S Sankar Muthuswamy and Sameer Verma, who have also withdrawn. Malvika Bansod, Aakarshi Kashyap, and Ashmita Chaliha will vie for honors in women's singles.
The doubles categories see limited Indian participation. Rituparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda will compete in women's doubles, while N Sikki Reddy/B Sumeeth Reddy and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran/Aadya Variyath will represent in mixed doubles.