Bangkok, May 12 – Indian badminton stars, both emerging and seasoned, are geared up for a promising outing at the Thailand Open Super 500 tournament, set to begin on Tuesday. After commendable performances in Taipei last week, young shuttlers Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda aim to sustain their momentum, while senior players like Lakshya Sen and Kidambi Srikanth look to find their rhythm on the international circuit.
Ayush Shetty and Unnati Hooda Target Main Draw Berths
Ayush Shetty, 20, and 17-year-old Unnati Hooda impressed with semifinal finishes at the Taipei Open Super 300. However, they must first clear the qualifying rounds in Bangkok. Shetty faces Finland’s Joakim Oldorff, while Unnati is pitted against Thailand’s Thamonwan Nithiittikrai in the women's singles qualifiers.Ira Sharma is the only Indian participating in the women's singles qualifying rounds alongside Unnati. In men’s singles, Sathish Karunakaran and Tharun Mannepalli are also in the qualification fray.
Lakshya Sen Returns to Action
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lakshya Sen returns to action after an injury hiatus, having missed the Sudirman Cup. He will start his campaign in the main draw against Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen and will be keen to test his fitness and form.Tough Openers for Women’s Singles Contingent
Malvika Bansod, a two-time Super 300 finalist, opens her campaign against Turkey’s Neslihan Yigit. Former national champion Anupama Upadhyaya has a challenging draw, facing Thailand’s former world champion Ratchanok Intanon. Rakshita Ramraj is set to meet Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min, while Aakarshi Kashyap will battle Japan’s Kaoru Sugiyama.Kidambi Srikanth Continues Comeback Bid
Once ranked world number one, Kidambi Srikanth continues his journey to regain form and ranking. Currently placed at 82, he will face compatriot S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian in the men’s singles qualifiers, a player he overcame last week in Taipei.Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Make Comeback
Top-ranked Indian women’s doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are set to return to the court after skipping the Sudirman Cup due to injuries. Treesa had a shoulder issue, while Gayatri suffered a back injury. The duo will face Malaysia’s Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting in their opening round of the main draw.Doubles Representation Expands
India's presence in the doubles category is further bolstered by the men’s pair Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K and the women’s team Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi.As the Thailand Open kicks off, it promises to be a pivotal test for India's rising stars and seasoned campaigners alike. All aim for deep runs and valuable ranking points on the BWF World Tour.