Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen are set to compete in the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament, eager to regain their top form after recent setbacks.
Sindhu, a former world champion, has struggled to find her best form since the Paris Olympics, where she was eliminated in the quarterfinals. She reached the quarterfinals at the Denmark Open Super 750 but lost in a tense deciding game to Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia.
Lakshya Sen, a rising star in the men’s singles, has also faced early exits at the Arctic Open Super 500 and Denmark Open. Despite his impressive game, his mental resilience has been questioned after his near-miss at the Tokyo Olympics, where he slipped from a medal position in a heartbreaking loss.
Despite these setbacks, both players are confident in their preparations. Sindhu has been working closely with new coaches Anup Sridhar and Korean legend Lee Syun Il, focusing on improving her speed and defense. Lakshya Sen will open against Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao, with a potential showdown against eighth seed Anthony Ginting of Indonesia in the next round.
The only other Indian pair in action will be the women’s doubles team of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who will face Taipei’s Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun in their opening match.
The Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament is a crucial event for Sindhu and Sen as they aim to regain their form and prepare for the upcoming World Championships and Asian Games.
