Sindhu gets a first-round bye; Srikanth starts against Nishimoto

crick03@1

The prestigious 28th edition of the World Badminton Championships is eagerly anticipated, with the thrilling action scheduled to unfold in Copenhagen from August 21 to 27. The much-awaited draw for the Badminton World Championships 2023 took center stage at the grand Badminton World Federation (BWF) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on a Thursday, setting the stage for an intense competition.
Distinguished by their prowess, 16 Indian shuttlers have secured their places in the highly competitive draw. Among these talented players, a quartet is geared up to shine in the singles events, where the competition is fierce. Notably, it's worth highlighting the notable accomplishments of HS Prannoy, as well as the formidable duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who have deservedly claimed their spots within the esteemed top 10 seeds.

A standout in the lineup, the two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, etched in history as the sole Indian to clinch the World Championships in 2019, receives a well-deserved bye for the initial round. The forthcoming chapter of her journey hinges on the outcome of the match between Thuy Linh Nguyen of Vietnam and Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, setting the stage for a thrilling follow-up round. As the competition unfolds, Sindhu could potentially cross paths with former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the third round. Intriguingly, her path may lead her to a quarterfinal confrontation with none other than the esteemed World No. 1, An Seyoung of Korea.

Meanwhile, the spotlight remains fixed on the dynamic duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, securing their place as the second seeds and bronze medalists from the preceding edition. This formidable men's doubles pair has earned a first-round bye, ensuring they leap straight into action in the subsequent round. The excitement continues as their adversaries are determined to be either Ireland’s Joshua Magee and Paul Reynolds or Australia’s Kenneth Zhe Hooi Choo and Ming Chuen Lim. Should they continue on this trajectory, a riveting quarterfinal encounter looms against the skilled duo of Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, followed by the thrilling potential of a semifinal clash against the adept Chinese pair of Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

As the competition gears up, the Indian male trio, composed of the formidable HS Prannoy, the rising star Lakshya Sen, and the seasoned Kidambi Srikanth, eagerly anticipate their showdowns in the men's singles category. An electrifying opening round sees the ninth-seeded Prannoy squaring off against Finland’s Kalle Koljonen. Meanwhile, the 11th-seeded Lakshya Sen sets his sights on a compelling match against Mauritius’ Georges Julien Paul. The battle intensifies as Kidambi Srikanth locks horns with Japan’s 14th-seeded Kenta Nishimoto.

Intriguingly, Prannoy, standing as the highest-ranked Indian male contender, stands poised for a potential showdown with the top seed, the formidable Victor Axelsen, in the quarterfinals. On another course, Lakshya Sen could potentially collide with the third-seeded Thai sensation, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, in an electrifying third-round clash. Not to be overlooked, the dynamic women's doubles segment beckons with its own narratives

tarun

World Badminton Championships 2023: PV Sindhu gets first-round bye, Kidambi Srikanth to open vs Kenta Nishimoto. Indian badminton players largely got a favourable draw for the 2023 BWF world championships to be held in Copenhagen later this month.

reet

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu (16th seed), the only Indian to have won the World Championship (in 2019), has been awarded a bye in the first round. She will be taking on either Vietnam’s Thuy Linh Nguyen or Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the round that follows. Sindhu could be up against former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the third round and if she manages to reach the quarterfinals, it could mean a clash with World No. 1 An Seyoung of Korea.