Korea Open: Prannoy, Tanvi Sharma and Anmol Kharb spearhead Indian challenge

Yeosu (South Korea): Newly crowned Hylo Open champion Lakshya Sen will miss the Korea Open, leaving experienced HS Prannoy to lead the Indian challenge at the USD 500,000 Super 500 badminton tournament beginning here on Tuesday.

Lakshya, who revived his season with his title triumph in Germany, was scheduled to face China’s Dong Tian Yao in the opening round but has decided to withdraw from the event.

Prannoy, a 2023 World Championships bronze medallist, will look to make a deep run when he opens his campaign against South Korea’s Yoo Tae Bin.

The 33-year-old has been one of India’s most experienced campaigners on the international circuit and will be expected to shoulder much of the responsibility in men’s singles in Lakshya’s absence.

The men’s singles field has a strong international presence, including Chinese Taipei’s top seed Chou Tien Chen, Japan’s third seed Kodai Naraoka and Canada’s Victor Lai.

In women’s singles, Tanvi Sharma will look to build on her progress when she takes on Japan’s Manami Suizu. The young Indian, who won the Taipei Open this year, has emerged as one of the promising players to watch.

Malvika Bansod faces a tougher opening assignment against fourth seed Sim Yu Jin of South Korea, while Anmol Kharb, who reached the semifinals of the Hylo Open last week, will be keen to carry that momentum into the Yeosu event when she faces Canada’s Rachel Chan.

The 19-year-old’s run in Germany, which included a semifinal appearance against two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu, has given her another opportunity to test herself against higher-ranked opponents.

In women’s doubles, India’s Sonali Singh and Ritika Thaker will take on Australia’s Laudya Chelsea Griselda and Nozomi Shimizu.

Dhruv Rawat and K Maneesha will represent India in mixed doubles and face seventh seeds Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian of China.