Badminton

Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth is set to make his long-awaited return to badminton at the Macau Open, starting Tuesday. The 31-year-old Indian has been sidelined since suffering an injury during the Singapore Open in May.Srikanth, who is seeded sixth for the BWF Super 300 event, will be joined by a 23-member Indian contingent. The contingent includes promising shuttler Malvika Bansod, who recently reached the quarterfinals of the China Open. However, Bansod has withdrawn from the Macau Open.In Srikanth's absence, India's hopes in the men's singles competition will rest on the shoulders of Mithun Manjunath, Sameer Verma, and Ayush Shetty.In the women's singles, Anupama Upadhyaya, Tanya Hemanth, and Tasnim Mir will be the Indian representatives.India's best chance for a podium finish lies in the women's doubles competition, where Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly are seeded third. The duo reached the semifinals of the Singapore Open BWF Super 750 event earlier this year.Commonwealth Games medalists N Sikki Reddy and B Sumeeth Reddy will lead India's charge in the mixed doubles competition.Notably, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will not be participating in the Macau Open.The tournament will conclude on Sunday, November 27.

Kidambi Srikanth's Swiss Open 2024 campaign ended in disappointment as the Indian badminton star succumbed to a hard-fought defeat in the men's singles semi-finals. Facing world No. 22 Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei, Srikanth displayed flashes of brilliance but ultimately fell short in a thrilling three-game encounter.The match began with Srikanth asserting his dominance, showcasing his trademark offensive smashes and deft net play to secure the opening game 21-15. However, Chun-Yi responded with a vengeance in the second game, swiftly turning a 4-1 deficit into a 6-5 lead. The Chinese Taipei shuttler then unleashed a devastating run of seven consecutive points, leaving Srikanth trailing 12-6. Despite a late surge, Srikanth could not recover, losing the game 9-21.The decider proved to be a nail-biting affair, with both players trading blows. Chun-Yi seized an early 4-1 advantage, but Srikanth fought back to establish a narrow 11-10 lead at the interval. The game remained fiercely contested until the closing stages, when Chun-Yi broke away with three straight points to take a 19-16 lead. Srikanth's unforced errors proved costly, allowing Chun-Yi to seal the victory 21-18.Srikanth's exit marked the end of India's challenge at the Swiss Open. Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George bowed out in the quarterfinals, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also failed to progress. PV Sindhu's campaign ended in the second round of the women's singles.Despite the setback, Srikanth's performance at the Swiss Open was a testament to his enduring quality. The former world number one remains a formidable force on the international circuit and will be determined to bounce back stronger in future tournaments.

Star Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth has emerged as the lone Indian survivor at the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament, advancing to the semifinals with a convincing straight-game victory over Chinese Taipei's Chia Hao Lee in Basel.Srikanth, who has been struggling for form this season, finally found his rhythm in the quarterfinals, dominating Lee 21-10, 21-14 in just 35 minutes. This marks his first semifinal appearance in 16 months, since the Hylo Open in November 2022.The 2021 world championships silver medalist will now face Chinese Taipei's world no. 22 Lin Chun-Yi in the semifinals on Saturday.Meanwhile, Kiran George's valiant effort came to a heartbreaking end in the quarterfinals, as he narrowly lost to Denmark's Rasmus Gemke 23-21, 17-21, 15-21. Another promising Indian, Priyanshu Rajawat, also bowed out in the quarterfinals, falling to Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 15-21, 19-21.Srikanth's victory is a much-needed boost for Indian badminton, which has been facing a slump in recent months. The shuttler will be hoping to continue his momentum and secure a spot in the final, where he could potentially face world no. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.

Viktor Axelsen and Kidambi Srikanth, once touted as the future of men's badminton, have taken vastly different paths since 2017. Axelsen has soared to unprecedented heights, becoming a two-time world champion, Olympic champion, and world No. 1. Srikanth, on the other hand, has struggled to maintain his early promise, last winning a tournament in 2017.Their contrasting fortunes were evident in their recent encounter at the All England Open Badminton Championships. Axelsen annihilated Srikanth 21-9, 21-9, extending his winning streak against the Indian to eight matches. Srikanth's confidence has been shattered, while Axelsen's dominance continues to grow.Axelsen's success stems from his exceptional attack and defense. His towering height and powerful jump smash make him a formidable opponent. However, it is his ability to adapt and counter his opponents' strategies that sets him apart.Srikanth, once known for his aggressive style, has lost his attacking edge. His opponents have deciphered his game and found ways to neutralize his venom. As a result, Srikanth has been making more errors and struggling to win matches.The All England Open also saw the exit of defending champion Li Shi Feng and Olympic-bound HS Prannoy. Prannoy, who had a strong 2023, has struggled this season, raising concerns about his form ahead of the Olympics.PV Sindhu, on a comeback trail, advanced to the next round after her opponent retired. However, she faces a daunting task in Round 2 against world No. 1 An Se Young, an opponent she has never beaten.

PV Sindhu, India's double Olympic medalist, advanced to the second round of the women's singles competition at the All England Championships on Tuesday. However, HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth faced setbacks in the opening round of men's singles.Sindhu, ranked 11th in the world, dominated the first game against German opponent Li Yvonne Li, winning 21-10. However, Li retired in the second game, allowing Sindhu to progress to the next round. The Indian is likely to face top seed An Se Young of Korea, who has been a formidable opponent, having defeated Sindhu in all six of their previous encounters.In men's singles, Prannoy, ranked 8th in the world, squandered an early lead to lose 21-14, 13-21, 13-21 to Su Li Yang of Chinese Taipei. This marked Prannoy's second consecutive first-round exit after his loss at the French Open last week.Srikanth, who is aiming to qualify for the Paris Olympics, suffered a disappointing defeat against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen, losing 9-21, 9-21. This leaves Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat as the only Indian contenders in men's singles.Aakarshi Kashyap also bowed out in the opening round, losing 16-21, 11-21 to Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Indonesia's Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti later in the day.

India's Kidambi Srikanth emerged victorious in the men's singles first round of the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament, while HS Prannoy faced an early exit. Srikanth, ranked 24th in the world, displayed his prowess by defeating 14th-ranked Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in a thrilling 66-minute encounter. The match witnessed a fierce battle, with Srikanth ultimately triumphing 21-15, 20-22, 21-8.Srikanth's victory marks his third win over Chen in seven meetings. The Indian shuttler showcased his dominance in the first game, securing a 14-point lead after trailing 5-7. However, Chen fought back in the second game, forcing a decider. In the final game, Srikanth regained his momentum, securing nine consecutive points to leave Chen trailing.In the adjacent court, Prannoy's hopes of advancing were dashed by China's Lu Guang Zu. Prannoy initially held a 5-2 lead in the opening game, but Guang Zu gradually closed the gap and eventually took the game 21-17. The second game followed a similar pattern, with Prannoy struggling to maintain his lead. Guang Zu capitalized on Prannoy's errors, securing the second game 21-17 and ending the Indian's campaign.Srikanth's victory sets him up for a second-round clash against China's Lu Guang Zu, who defeated Prannoy. The Indian shuttler will be aiming to continue his winning streak and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.