As the China Masters Super 750 kicks off in Shenzhen on Tuesday, Lakshya Sen will spearhead India’s challenge, looking to shake off the disappointment of his early exit at the BWF World Championships.
Sen’s first match poses a significant challenge as he goes up against Alex Lanier, the newly crowned world champion from France.
Having made history as the first Indian male player to reach the Olympic semifinal at the Paris Games two years ago, where he ultimately finished fourth, Sen has shown promise this season with a runner-up finish at the All England Championships. He is eager to regain his form after an unexpected second-round defeat to world No. 92 Garret Tan at the World Championships.
Meanwhile, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth is set to compete against Chi Yu-jen from Chinese Taipei after finishing as a runner-up at the US Open Super 300 in June. Srikanth’s recent tour performance has been inconsistent, marred by an injury that forced his retirement at the Canada Open and a first-round exit at the Korea Masters.
In men’s doubles, fourth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are considered among India’s top contenders. The pair ended a two-year wait for a title earlier this year by winning the Singapore Open. They will begin their campaign against the Chinese duo of Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi, who recently claimed the Orleans Masters title. Satwik has been managing a recurring shoulder issue, but after a brief hiatus, the duo is aiming for a strong performance as they prepare to defend their title at the Asian Games in Japan.
India’s young female singles players will also be in the spotlight, with Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, and Devika Sihag representing the nation. Unnati, an 18-year-old from Rohtak, will face fifth seed Han Yue of China. She made headlines by becoming the youngest Indian to win a BWF World Tour title when she secured the Odisha Open Super 100 in 2022 at just 14 years old, and has since added the Abu Dhabi Masters and Odisha Masters titles to her achievements.
Tanvi is set to compete against Denmark’s Amalie Schulz, showcasing her rapid ascent by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Taipei Open Super 300 this year. Devika, ranked within the top 45 globally, will take on Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova following her victory at the Thailand Masters Super 300.
