Will Satwik-Chirag Lead India to Glory at Indonesia Open 2025?

New Delhi, June 2 (NationPress) Former champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lead India’s efforts at the esteemed Indonesia Open Super 1000 tournament commencing Tuesday in Jakarta. With a prize fund of USD 1.45 million and vital ranking points at stake, this event is poised to significantly impact India’s preparations for the Olympics.

Following an impressive semifinal appearance at the Singapore Open last week, the world No. 27 Indian duo returns to the Istora Senayan — a venue they previously triumphed at in 2023 — eager to replicate their success. After overcoming fitness challenges, Satwik and Chirag seem to be regaining their form and will begin their campaign against local favorites Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana.

A win could lead them to clash with their longstanding adversaries — Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who have a dominant record against them and halted their Singapore campaign last week.

Despite a dip in rankings due to time away from the court — Satwik faced health issues while Chirag dealt with a back injury — the duo’s strategic prowess was evident in Singapore, particularly when they outplayed the top-seeded Malaysian pair of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin.

In the women’s singles category, P.V. Sindhu makes her return with the goal of rebuilding her career. The two-time Olympic medalist has faced a challenging 2024, affected by a hamstring injury that caused her to miss the Badminton Asia Team Championships. Her comeback has been met with early exits and unexpected losses, yet she showed resilience last week, pushing Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei to the limit.

With new Indonesian coach Irwansyah Adi Pratama supporting her, Sindhu is determined to regain her momentum. She faces a formidable opening match against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara, a competitor with whom she has shared several intense encounters. Their upcoming match is expected to add another chapter to their storied rivalry. A victory could set up a potential second-round showdown against Thailand’s skillful Pornpawee Chochuwong.

Other Indian women’s singles players competing include Anupama Upadhyaya, who meets Korea’s Kim Ga Eun, Rakshitha Sree Ramraj against Supanida Katethong, and Malvika Bansod facing Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani.

In men’s singles, H.S. Prannoy — a bronze medalist at the 2023 World Championships — aims to find his rhythm against Indonesia's Alwi Farhan. Lakshya Sen, returning from a back injury, faces a challenging opener against current world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China. Lakshya has struggled for consistency since his run to the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, and this match could significantly influence his comeback.

Promising talent Kiran George, from the PPBA academy, is set for a tough match against former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore.

In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will strive to build confidence against Japan’s seasoned duo Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto. Gayatri’s full recovery is crucial for the Indian pair’s aspirations ahead of the Paris Olympics.

India also boasts a strong presence in mixed doubles, with four pairs ready to compete: Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto, Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani, Sathish Karunakaran/Aadya Variyath, and Ashith Surya/Amrutha Pramuthesh.