Seoul: World Championships silver medallist PV Sindhu will look to continue her rampaging run when she leads Indian challenge at Korea Super Series badminton tournament here, starting Tuesday. However, both Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth have decided to give the event a miss as they continue their preparations for next week’s Japan Open.
At the SK Handball Stadium here, Sindhu will open her campaign against Hong Kong’s Cheung Ngan Yi in women’s singles. The men’s charge will be led by HS Prannoy, who had defeated Lee Chong Wei and Chen Long at the Indonesia Open, will face sixth-seeded Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong in the opening round.
“I have played him (Angus) a few times in the past, had some tough matches. He is a tricky player and sometimes plays out of the box. So I have to move well. Let’s see how the conditions are in Korea,” Prannoy told this agency.
Playing his first event after winning the US Open badminton tournament in July, the Indian shuttler said it would be a new start for him even though he has gained a lot of confidence from the last victory.
“Even though, I am playing after a long gap, the US Open title has been a huge confidence booster for me. As for my tournament form, I can’t comment… but then I should play well,” Prannoy asserted.
In other first round matches B Sai Praneeth will face Hong Kong’s Hu Yun, an opponent against whom the Indian has a 2-2 head-to-head record, Sameer Verma will tackle Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, his elder brother Sourabh Verma will meet a qualifier while Parupalli Kashyap, will play Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu Hsien.
BAI to honour Prakash
Kochi: Badminton great Prakash Padukone will be conferred with the first ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ instituted by Badminton Association of India (BAI) for his rich contribution to the sport. Announcing the award at a press conference here Monday, BAI president Himanta Biswa Sarma said the award will carry a citation and a cash award of Rs 10 lakh. Padukone had won the 1980 All England title, besides bagging a bronze at the 1983 World Championships in Copenhagen. He also won a gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.
press trust of india