India Open 2025: Srikanth and Kiran George Enter Main Draw After Withdrawals
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Synopsis
In the wake of Shi Yuqi and Antony Ginting's withdrawals, Kidambi Srikanth and Kiran George enter the India Open 2025 men's singles draw. The event will highlight PV Sindhu's return post-marriage and features numerous Indian stars ready to perform on home soil.
Key Takeaways
- Kidambi Srikanth and Kiran George replace Shi Yuqi and Antony Ginting in the draw.
- PV Sindhu returns to competition after her marriage.
- Lakshya Sen faces Chun Yi Lin in the first round.
- Over 200 players from various countries will compete.
- India Open 2025 promises thrilling matches at KD Jadhav Indoor Hall.
New Delhi, Jan 13 (NationPress) Following the unexpected withdrawals of top seed Shi Yuqi from China and eighth seed Antony Ginting from Indonesia, former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth and Kiran George have been included in the men's singles draw of the India Open 2025. As a result, the men's and women's singles main draws have been revised in accordance with the regulations.
The spotlight will be on two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who is set to compete in her first tournament following her marriage. Additionally, expectations are high for Lakshya Sen in men’s singles and Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in men's doubles.
Currently, Lakshya Sen will replace Ginting in the draw and face Chun Yi Lin from Chinese Taipei in the opening round. Srikanth will compete against Hong Yang Weng of China, while Kiran George will begin his journey against Yushi Tanaka from Japan.
In the women’s category, Sindhu will take Busnan Ongbamrungphan's position and is set to meet Shuo Yun Sung from Chinese Taipei in her first match. An all-Indian matchup in the opening round will feature Anupama Upadhyaya against Rakshita Sree SR. After a hiatus from the circuit, India’s top badminton stars are eager to showcase their skills at home as the India Open 2025 commences at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall at the Indira Gandhi Arena starting Tuesday.
This renowned tournament, part of the BWF World Tour Super 750 series, has attracted elite badminton athletes, including Olympic champions Viktor Axelsen and An Se-Young.
Sindhu, the 2017 champion, took an extended break after the Paris Olympics before returning to competition late last year. She also got married in December and is eager to make a strong impression here.
“This will be my first tournament after marriage and the start of the new year. Everything feels fresh, and I aim to perform my best in front of the home crowd… Post-Paris Olympics, I needed time to recover both physically and emotionally, and the break has truly revitalized me,” Sindhu stated at the launch press conference for the India Open 2025 on Monday.
In addition to Sindhu, Indian badminton enthusiasts remain hopeful that Satwik and Chirag, who were Commonwealth Games gold medallists and runners-up in the previous edition, can add another India Open trophy to their collection.
Satwik and Chirag were sidelined for a significant portion of 2024 following the Paris Games. They recently made a strong comeback at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 last week, reaching the semifinals, and are motivated to replicate their 2022 India Open title victory.
“I faced issues with my shoulder, but I also had back problems following the Paris Olympics, which required time to heal. Now, I feel great and have no issues,” shared Satwik and Chirag.
“The last time we were here, we reached the final after competing in the Malaysia Open. We want to improve upon our last year’s performance,” they added.
More than 200 athletes from major badminton nations, including India, China, Japan, Denmark, South Korea, and Indonesia, will participate in the India Open this week, with approximately 45 Indian players taking part in the tournament.
