Paris Olympics 2024: PV Sindhu is there, but Satwik-Chirag best bet | Paris Olympics 2024 News - Times of India

PARIS: Badminton has been one of the bright spots for India over the last three Olympics. Saina Nehwal’s bronze in London showed the way ...

PARIS: Badminton has been one of the bright spots for India over the last three Olympics. Saina Nehwal’s bronze in London showed the way and PV Sindhu took it up from there, winning a silver and bronze in Rio and Tokyo, respectively. Sindhu is one of India’s flagbearers in the opening ceremony, but her job doesn’t end there. The ace shuttler, who has hit a bit of an air-pocket in recent times, is expected to raise her game as she makes her third appearance in the Olympics at the Porte de La Chapelle arena here.
Sindhu, seeded 10th, opens against World No. 111 Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives in Group M which also has Kristin Kuuba (No. 74) of Estonia. Though it’s an easy group, with only one qualifying for the Round of 16, there’s no scope of faltering for the former world champion.
Sindhu’s success over the years makes her the most followed, but if you are tracking Indian badminton, you’ll know that India’s biggest medal hope in badminton this time around is the crack World No. 1 combo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The fire and ice combo, who endured a heartbreak in Tokyo failing to make the quarters despite stunning the eventual gold medallists Lee Yang and Wang-Chi L in the league stage, is desperate to make amends. The Indian pair is a different beast now and their rivals know what they are up against. The Chinese are expected to sweep the men’s and women’s singles gold medals, but it’s on Satwik-Chirag to make it difficult for them in men’s doubles.
For Sindhu, now mentored by the legendary Prakash Padukone, it’s an Olympic gold that’s still missing from her glittering cupboard. It won’t be easy for the Indian. Among those standing in Sindhu’s way are defending champion Chen Yufei of China, World No. 1 An Seyoung of Korea and Taipei’s Tai Tzu-ying. Not to forget Yamaguchi Akane of Japan and her biggest rival Carolina Marin of Spain. While Sindhu’s pedigree in big events gives a sense of hope, men’s singles looks the weakest link for India at the moment.
HS Prannoy has the ability to beat the best on his day and 2022 All England runner up Lakshya Sen is a formidable force, but their routes going forward aren’t the smoothest.
In fact, if both progress from the groups, World No. 13 Prannoy will run into No. 14 Sen in the pre-quarters, which takes one medal hope out. While Prannoy’s Group K isn’t the toughest with Germany’s Fabian Roth being the only familiar name, Sen is in a significantly difficult group.

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