Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya seek first crown

Shenzhen: With the world’s best lining up in Shenzhen, India’s top shuttlers face a stern test at the China Masters Super 750. Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and the doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy–Chirag Shetty know the challenge from Chinese, Malaysian, and Japanese rivals will be fierce. Yet, what drives them this week is the hunger to break through and finally claim a title that has stayed out of reach all year.

Lakshya, 24, finally found rhythm at the Hong Kong Open, where he ended a long barren run by reaching his first major final in two years. The Almora shuttler, who finished fourth at the Paris Olympics but later struggled with form and fitness, starts his campaign here against France’s Toma Junior Popov. “I just need to believe in myself more and stick to the process,” he said.

Satwik and Chirag, seeded eighth, have been India’s most reliable pair this season. Their consistent run includes six semifinal finishes, a World Championships bronze, and a runner-up effort at Hong Kong last week, their first final in 16 months. They open against Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap. “We’re right up there with the best. It’s only a matter of time,” Satwik noted.

Youngster Ayush Shetty, who stunned Japan’s world No. 6 Kodai Naraoka last week, faces a tough opener against sixth seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei. Ayush, 19, had also beaten Chou en route to his maiden BWF crown at the US Open Super 300 in 2024.

Among women, PV Sindhu will look to rediscover her sharpness when she takes on Denmark’s Julie Dawall Jakobsen. The world No. 14 showed flashes of brilliance at the World Championships, but consistency remains a question.

India will also field Rutaparna and Swetaparna Panda in women’s doubles, and two mixed doubles pairs Rohan Kapoor–Ruthvika Shivani Gadde and Dhruv Kapila–Tanisha Crasto aiming to make their mark.