New Delhi: Indian shuttlers HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen will spearhead the country’s campaign at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 tournament, beginning Tuesday, as both look to rediscover their top form while a promising younger group aims to deliver breakthrough results.
Lakshya enters the event with renewed confidence after reversing a dip in form earlier this season. The 24-year-old reached the final of the Hong Kong Open and made quarterfinal runs in Denmark and at the Hylo Open, signalling a steady return to rhythm. Seeded seventh, he opens against Japan’s Koki Watanabe, a world No. 25 known for long rallies and tactical discipline. The match is expected to be a strong early test for the Olympic fourth-place finisher.
Prannoy continues his comeback journey after a difficult period marked by illness and injury. The experienced shuttler, a World Championships bronze medallist in 2023, struggled leading into the Paris Olympics due to chikungunya and played through discomfort during the Games. His injury resurfaced at the Korea Open in September, forcing him to retire mid-match. Now back after several weeks of recovery, the 33-year-old starts his campaign against Malaysia’s Jun Hao Leong as he tries to regain momentum.
The next generation of Indian talent will also be in the spotlight. Ayush Shetty, who clinched the US Open title earlier this year and stunned former world champion Loh Kean Yew during his impressive Hylo Open run, faces a daunting opener against top seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand. Tharun Mannepalli, who reached the semifinals of the Macau Open, meets Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin, while Kiran George takes on a qualifier after a confidence-boosting quarterfinal at the Hylo Open.
India will also feature in mixed doubles, where Rohan Kapoor and Ruthvika Shivani Gadde begin their campaign against the American pair Presley Smith and Jennie Gai. There are no Indian entries in the remaining categories.
With seasoned campaigners seeking revival and rising stars looking to push higher, the tournament offers India a chance to reset its trajectory in the final stretch of the season.
