New Delhi, Dec 23: The newly-crowned World Champion Loh Kean Yew and silver medalist Kidambi Srikanth are likely to meet each other once again at the India Open 2022, scheduled from January 11 to 16.
The 11th edition of the prestigious tournament, which is making a return after a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be played at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. The two-time Olympics medallist P. V. Sindhu and the 2021 World Championships bronze medallist Lakshya Sen have received a relatively easy passage in the initial rounds at the USD 400,000 prize money Super 500 event, which will kickstart the 2022 BWF World Tour season.
Top seed Srikanth, who recently entered top 10 in the world rankings, and Singapore’s Kean Yew have been drawn in the same half and are likely to clash against each other in the possible men’s singles semi-final showdown.
In the lower half, the in-form Lakshya will start his campaign against Adham Elgamal of Egypt and could face compatriot and World Championships quarter-finalist HS Prannoy in the last-eight stage. Prannoy is set to kickstart his challenge against Spaniard Pablo Abian.
Second seed B Sai Praneeth would also be looking to start the year on a high as he will take on Spain’s Luis Penalver in the opening round and could face Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto in the quarter-finals.
“It has been tough two years for all of us but we are very excited to host this tournament once again. Unfortunately, keeping players’ and other stakeholders’ safety as topmost priority, this mega event will be played without spectators. BAI will ensure execution of this tournament under strict COVID protocols,” said Ajay Singhania, General Secretary of Badminton Association of India (BAI).
In the women’s singles, top seed PV Sindhu will begin her campaign against compatriot Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli and could face Russian fifth seed Evgeniya Kosetskaya in the last-eight stage. Indian badminton fans would be hoping for the marquee all-Indian summit clash between Sindhu and the former World No. 1 Saina Nehwal, who has received a relatively tough draw.
The London Olympics bronze medalist and fourth seed Nehwal is likely to square off against seventh seed Iris Wang of USA in the quarter-finals and second seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the semi-finals. India’s top pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, who have been seeded second in the men’s doubles draw and will begin their campaign against compatriot Ravi and Chirag Arora, are likely meet fourth seed pair of Ben Lane and Sean Vendy from England in the last-four stage.
In the women’s doubles, second seed pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy will have an easy route to the last-eight.
However, playing along with B. Sumith Reddy, Ponappa will face a tough challenge in the mixed doubles as they will be up against second seeded Russian duo of Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova in their opening round match.
