Denmark Open kicks off with Indian hopes high

India’s star doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be aiming to turn their consistent performances into silverware as they lead the country’s campaign at the USD 950,000 Denmark Open Super 750 badminton tournament, starting Tuesday.

The Asian Games gold medallists, seeded sixth, begin their campaign against Scotland’s Christopher Grimley and Matthew Grimley. Satwik and Chirag have been India’s most reliable performers this year, reaching consecutive finals at the Hong Kong and China Masters Super 750 events. They also secured a second World Championships bronze in Paris, underlining their growing stature among the world’s elite pairs.

With several semifinal appearances across the season, the Indian duo now seeks to end their wait for a first title in 2025 a breakthrough that could give them crucial momentum ahead of the season’s closing stretch.

In men’s singles, 19-year-old Ayush Shetty, currently ranked world No. 28, opens against France’s Toma Junior Popov. Ayush enjoyed a breakthrough year, winning his maiden BWF Super 300 title at the US Open, followed by a quarterfinal run at the Hong Kong Super 500. However, recent early exits in Korea and China have exposed inconsistency, a challenge he will aim to overcome in Odense.

Lakshya Sen, ranked 19th in the world, faces Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen in the first round. The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist found his rhythm again with a runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Super 500 in September, after a lean period following his fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics. Yet, back-to-back defeats to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka and Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn have highlighted his need for sharper match play.

In women’s singles, rising shuttler Anmol Kharb will look to continue her impressive form after reaching her first-ever Super 500 semifinal at the Arctic Open last week. The teenager faces a stiff challenge against Indonesia’s seventh seed Putri Kusuma Wardani in the opening round.

In other events, men’s doubles duo Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K. will meet Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han. Among women’s pairs, sisters Rutaparna and Swetaparna Panda face Scotland’s Julie MacPherson and Ciara Torrance, while Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi play Bulgaria’s Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva.

In mixed doubles, the Indian challenge will be led by the pairs of Mohit and Lakshita Jaglan, Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani, and Dhruv Kapila with Tanisha Crasto, all eager to make a mark on the European circuit.