Macau Open 2024: Kidambi Srikanth Returns to Spearhead Indian Challenge

Former world number one singles shuttler Kidambi Srikanth is all set to make his return to badminton, spearheading the Indian challenge during the Macau Open 2024 tournament, which is starting on Tuesday (September 24).

The 31-year-old has not featured in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour circuit since picking up an injury during the Singapore Open back in May. Now, he returns as a sixth-seed for the BWF Super 300 event, where he will be part of 23-member Indian contingent.

The 2021 World Championships silver medalist made it to the semifinals of the Swiss Open in March this year but has struggled to reach beyond pre-quarterfinals in nine other tournaments played this year.

Apart from Srikanth, the likes of Mithun Manjunath, Sameer Verma, Ayush Shetty and several others will be part of the men's singles competition. While Srikanth, Manjunath, Sameer Verma and three others are already in the main draw, few will play the qualifiers.

The women's singles will feature Anupama Upadhyaya and Tanya Hemanth, but talented shuttler Malvika Bansod, who stunned the Olympics 2024 bronze medallist Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia at the China Open just last week, has pulled out of the tournament.

Third seed Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly will be India's biggest hope in women's doubles competition during the tournament, having reached the semifinals of Singapore Open BWF Super 750 event earlier this June. But they are yet to win a title this year.

Commonwealth Games medalists N Sikki Reddy and B Sumeeth Reddy will spearhead India's charge in mixed doubles competition. There will be no Indian team competing in the men's doubles event as Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continue to miss action.

Prominent Indian singles stars from the Paris Olympics 2024, including two-time Olympic medallist, PV Sindhu as well as HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen, will not be playing in the Macau Open, which will conclude on Sunday. Here is a look at the squad and schedule:

Indian shuttlers competing in Macau Open 2024

Men's singles: Mithun Manjunath, Sameer Verma, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth [6], S Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, Chirag Sen; Qualifiers: Tharun Mannepalli, Aryamann Tandon, Alap Mishra, Darshan Pujari
Women's singles: Anupama Upadhyaya, Tanya Hemanth, Tasnim Mir, Devika Sihag, Isharani Baruah
Women's doubles: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand [3], Apoorva Gahlawat/Sakshi Gahlawat; Qualifiers: Ruthvika Shivani Gadde/N Sikki Reddy
Mixed doubles: B Sumeeth Reddy/N Sikki Reddy, Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde