Former world champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will embark on their quest for a maiden French Open title at the USD 850,000 Super 750 tournament starting Tuesday. The Indian duo, ranked No. 1 in the world, have been tantalizingly close to victory in recent tournaments, finishing as runners-up at the China Masters Super 750, Malaysia Open Super 1000, and India Open Super 750 events.
The French Open will provide an opportunity for the Indian shuttlers to familiarize themselves with the conditions at the Adidas arena at Porte de la Chapelle, which will host the badminton competitions at the Paris Olympics. Rankireddy and Shetty, who won the French Open in 2022, will be the favorites to reach the weekend once again.
Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu will also be in action, making her return to the circuit after four months. Sindhu, ranked No. 11 in the world, will face Canada’s Michelle Li in her opening match. A win could set up a clash with three-time former world champion Carolina Marin of Spain, their first meeting since their ill-tempered match at the Denmark Open semi-final.
In men’s singles, world No. 7 HS Prannoy will look to build on his semifinal appearance at the India Open. He will face China’s Lu Guang Zu in his opening match. Lakshya Sen, who has slipped to world No. 19, will also be in action, taking on Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama. Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth will face a tough challenge against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen, while young Priyanshu Rajawat will have an opportunity to create an upset against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen.
In a crucial turn of fate, two Indian women pairs — Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, and Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa — who are vying for an Olympic berth, will face off in the opening round.
