India Open Badminton Tournament Embraces Historic Venue in New Delhi
The India Open badminton championship always brings high expectations for Indian players. This year, those expectations grow even stronger as the tournament moves to a legendary location. The action shifts to the famous badminton hall inside New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
This venue holds special significance for Indian sports fans. It hosted badminton competitions during the 1982 Asian Games. Returning to this historic space adds extra excitement to this year's tournament.
Indian Stars Prepare for Key Battles
The spotlight immediately falls on an intriguing first-round matchup in men's singles. Lakshya Sen faces Ayush Shetty in an all-Indian contest. This clash brings together established pedigree against rising momentum.
PV Sindhu provides the tournament with its familiar center of gravity. The two-time Olympic medalist and 2017 India Open champion begins her campaign against Vietnam's Nguyen Thuy Linh. Sindhu carries confidence from reaching the semifinals at last week's Malaysia Open Super 1000 event.
In the same section of the draw, Malvika Bansod will test herself against Chinese Taipei's Pai Yu Po. Another Indian veteran, Kidambi Srikanth, returns with something to prove. The 2015 champion reached finals at both the Malaysia Masters Super 500 and Syed Modi International last year. He opens against Chinese Taipei's Lin Chun-Yi in a match that could establish his season's direction.
Doubles Pair Carries India's Medal Hopes
India's strongest medal prospects once again rest heavily on the men's doubles combination of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The pair consistently performs well at this tournament. They have reached two finals in the last four editions and claimed the championship title in 2022.
Their 2025 season demonstrated their elite status on the world stage. They finished as runners-up at both the Hong Kong Open and China Masters tournaments. The pair also earned bronze at the World Championships and reached the knockout stage at the World Tour Finals. Their Malaysia Open campaign ended with a quarterfinal exit last week, but they remain formidable contenders.
The India Open promises exciting badminton action with Indian players positioned for strong performances. The historic venue change adds symbolic weight to this year's edition. Fans eagerly await the tournament's opening matches and potential Indian success stories.
