Satwik-Chirag return at Singapore Open 2025 as PV Sindhu, Prannoy, and Sen lead India’s quest for form and fitness ahead of Paris Olympics. Catch all the key matchups, draws, and expectations in this thrilling Super 750 event.
The prestigious Singapore Open Super 750, kicking off this Tuesday, brings renewed hope for Indian badminton fans as Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty mark their much-awaited return to top-tier competition. The world No. 3 men’s doubles pair, once ranked No. 1 globally, has been out of action for nearly two months due to Chirag’s back injury and Satwik’s health issues. Their absence was felt at the Sudirman Cup and after their last appearance at the All England Championships in March.
Fully recovered and reinvigorated, the duo will commence their campaign against Malaysia’s Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal. Having reached the semifinals at both the Malaysia Open and India Open earlier this year, Satwik and Chirag aim to regain form and solidify their Olympic credentials ahead of Paris 2024.
While their return is a significant boost for India’s campaign, the men’s singles draw presents a more uncertain picture. Kidambi Srikanth, who recently finished runner-up at the Malaysia Masters, has opted to skip the tournament. This places greater responsibility on veteran shuttler HS Prannoy, who continues his comeback trail after battling chikungunya. He faces Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke in the opening round and will look to build on the momentum from his win over Kenta Nishimoto in Malaysia.
Another key contender, Lakshya Sen, is also under the spotlight. After a sensational run to the semifinals at the Paris Olympics, Sen has failed to find consistency this season, suffering four first-round defeats. He begins his Singapore Open campaign against Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei, a clash that could define his trajectory for the rest of the year.
Youngsters Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George are also in the fray but have struggled to deliver notable results. George takes on China’s Weng Hong Yang in what promises to be a stern test.
In women’s singles, PV Sindhu, India’s most decorated badminton star, is fighting both form and fitness issues. The two-time Olympic medallist missed the Asia Team Championships earlier this year due to a hamstring injury and has since endured disappointing early exits, losing to lower-ranked opponents such as Thuy Linh Nguyen and Putri Kusuma Wardani. Sindhu starts her campaign against Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang in a must-win encounter that could revive her flagging confidence and season.
The draw hasn’t been kind to India’s other female shuttlers. Rising star Anmol Kharb faces Olympic gold medallist Chen Yu Fei, while Aakarshi Kashyap is up against third seed Han Yue. Malvika Bansod meets Thailand’s Supanida Katethong, and Rakshita Ramraj will play Kim Ga Eun. Promising teenager Unnati Hooda, just 17, faces a daunting clash against second seed and Malaysia Masters champion Wang Zhiyi.
In women’s doubles, the eighth-seeded pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand aim for a deep run after cracking the top 10 rankings. They open against the Chinese Taipei pair Chang Ching Hui and Yang Ching Tun. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto and Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde will look to spring surprises.
As the Singapore Open unfolds, the tournament represents both a comeback and a test for India’s top players in their quest for consistency and Olympic readiness.
