Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Experienced Indian shuttlers shine on opening day of BWF Super 750 tournament in New Delhi
The opening round of the India Open 2026 badminton tournament witnessed strong performances from experienced Indian players at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. In the men’s singles category, H.S. Prannoy and former champion Kidambi Srikanth overcame their younger opponents to secure places in the second round, while Malvika Bansod registered a convincing win in women’s singles to move ahead.
In men’s singles action, 33-year-old H.S. Prannoy defeated Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu in straight games, winning 22-20, 21-18. The contest was closely fought, especially in the opening game, where Prannoy saved two game points before sealing the advantage. Known for his patience in long rallies and sharp smashes, Prannoy controlled key moments to close out the match. The win was significant for the Indian shuttler, who has struggled with fitness issues over the past season. He will now face former world champion and eighth seed Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the second round.
Kidambi Srikanth also progressed after a hard-fought three-game victory against compatriot Tharun M. Srikanth dropped the opening game 15-21 but made a strong comeback, dominating the second game 21-6 to force a decider. In the final game, the former world No. 1 trailed 17-19 but showed his experience at the net and composure under pressure to win four consecutive points and clinch the match 21-19. Srikanth will next take on France’s Christo Popov in the second round.
In women’s singles, Malvika Bansod was the only other Indian to advance on the day. The left-hander defeated Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei 21-18, 21-19 in a closely contested first-round match to book her spot in round two.
However, it was a disappointing outing for former world champion PV Sindhu, who exited the tournament in the opening round. Sindhu went down to Vietnam’s Thuy Linh Nguyen in a three-game encounter, losing 20-22, 21-12, 21-15.
Youngster Tanvi Sharma also caught attention despite her first-round loss. The 16-year-old pushed second seed Wang Zhi Yi of China in a tough three-game match, eventually losing 20-22, 21-18, 21-13. Playing her first Super 750 event, Tanvi displayed confidence and skill, underlining her potential as a future star of Indian badminton.