HS Prannoy Leads India at Korea Open After Lakshya Withdrawal

HS Prannoy will lead India’s challenge at the Korea Open after Lakshya Sen withdrew from the USD 500,000 Super 500 badminton tournament, which begins on Tuesday. Sen had been due to face China’s Dong Tian Yao in the opening round, but his withdrawal changes the shape of India’s men’s singles representation in Yeosu.

Sen arrives at the tournament period as the newly crowned Hylo Open champion, having revived his season with his title-winning run in Germany. In his absence, the responsibility in men’s singles falls heavily on Prannoy, one of India’s most experienced players on the international circuit and a 2023 World Championships bronze medallist.

Prannoy opens his Korea Open campaign against South Korea’s Yoo Tae Bin. The tournament offers him an immediate opportunity to make a deep run in a field that includes leading international names, while India’s women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles players also begin their respective campaigns.

Prannoy faces key opening test in men’s singles

Prannoy’s first-round meeting with Yoo Tae Bin is India’s main men’s singles fixture following Sen’s exit. The 33-year-old will be expected to carry much of the Indian challenge in the draw, with the Korea Open providing a significant Super 500 test.

The men’s singles field includes Chinese Taipei’s top seed Chou Tien Chen, Japan’s third seed Kodai Naraoka and Canada’s Victor Lai. Their presence underlines the level of opposition across the event as Prannoy starts his campaign.

Sen’s scheduled opening-round contest against Dong Tian Yao will not take place following the Indian player’s decision to pull out. His absence comes after the Hylo Open title triumph that had provided a positive finish to his latest tournament in Germany.

For Prannoy, the Korea Open is a chance to set the tone for India’s contingent from the first round. His experience and World Championships medal credentials make him the central Indian men’s singles player in the tournament following the change to Sen’s schedule.

Indian women and doubles pairs begin their campaigns

In women’s singles, Tanvi Sharma will face Japan’s Manami Suizu. Sharma won the Taipei Open this year and will look to build on that progress at the Korea Open.

Malvika Bansod has a demanding opening assignment against fourth seed Sim Yu Jin of South Korea. Anmol Kharb, meanwhile, will play Canada’s Rachel Chan after reaching the semifinals of the Hylo Open last week. The 19-year-old’s run in Germany included a semifinal appearance against two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, giving her another opportunity to test herself against higher-ranked opposition in Yeosu.

India also has representation in the doubles draws. Sonali Singh and Ritika Thaker will meet Australia’s Laudya Chelsea Griselda and Nozomi Shimizu in women’s doubles. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Rawat and K. Maneesha will take on China’s seventh seeds Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian.

With Sen out, Prannoy’s opening match becomes the focal point of India’s men’s singles effort, while the wider squad seeks progress across each of the Korea Open draws.