India Open 2025: Focus on Consistent Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty As Hosts Field Largest-Ever Contingent

Mumbai, January 13: Spotlight will be firmly on the consistent Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty as they lead the host nation's largest-ever contingent at the star-studded India Open Super 750, beginning here on Tuesday. The former world No. 1 men's doubles pair, the 2022 Indian Open champions, has made a good start to the 2025 season, reaching the semifinals at the Malaysia Super 1000 last week. Despite the disappointment at the Paris Olympics, the duo has emerged as India's most reliable performers over the last two years, regularly advancing deep into draws, and there will not be any exception in the USD 950,000 event. Malaysian Open 2025: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty Knocked-Out in Semifinals, Pair Loses to South Korean Duo in Straight Sets.

Satwik and Chirag, semifinalists at the 2024 China Masters, will face Malaysia's Wei Chong Man and Kai Wun Tee in their opening round. While the Indians have shown impressive form, they will be seeking improvement in quick rallies and service variations in a bid to better their runners-up position in the tournament last year.

However, the Indian pair will face stiff competition from top names such as China's Olympic silver medallists Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, Paris bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Rasmussen, and Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto.

Sindhu back in action

This year's tournament sees an impressive 21 Indian entries, with two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu back in action after missing the season-opener in Kuala Lumpur due to her wedding. The 29-year-old Hyderabadi returned to winning ways, lifting the Syed Modi International title, although it was against a predominantly Indian field. Malaysia Open 2025: Indian Shuttler HS Prannoy Falls in Second Round After Loss to China’s Li Shi Feng.

Sindhu will begin her campaign against compatriot Anupama Upadhyaya and is drawn to face Japan's rising star Tomoka Miyazaki – the 2022 world junior champion and her conqueror at last year's Swiss Open – in a potentially intriguing clash.

Lakshya Sen, fresh from winning the Syed Modi title and finishing third at the Kings Cup, will hope to bounce back from an early exit in Malaysia.

But the 2022 India Open champion faces a tough opening test against Chinese left-hander Hong Yang Weng.

HS Prannoy, returning after a five-month break following a pre-quarterfinal exit at the Paris Olympics, stumbled in the second round in Malaysia. However, the 32-year-old veteran showed signs of his old self and will look to build when he faces Chinese Taipei's Li Yang Su in the first round. A victory could set him up for a showdown with second seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia. Malaysia Open 2025: Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pair Makes Pre-Quarterfinals Following Victory Over Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai.

With marquee players like Olympic champions Viktor Axelsen and An Se Young, and world No. 1 Shi Yuqi leading the competition, high-octane action could unfold at KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Stadium. The tournament will feature 18 of the world's top-20 men's singles players and 14 of the top-20 women's singles shuttlers.

Young names eye glory

Among the Indians, some promising youngsters will be eager to make a mark.

Priyanshu Rajawat faces a tough challenge in his opening round against sixth-seeded Japanese Kodai Naraoka, while Malvika Bansod meets third seed Chinese Yue Han, and Aakarshi Kashyap faces eighth-seeded Thai Pornpawee Chochuwong.

In the women's doubles, India's hopes rest on fifth-seeded Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who will face Japan's Arisa Igarashi and

Ayako Sakuramoto in the first round. Meanwhile, Guwahati Masters winners Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, seeded seventh here, will take on the British duo of Chloe Coney and Estelle Van Leeuwen.

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