Odense, October 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
PV Sindhu faces a formidable opening-round challenge against world No. 1 An Se-young as India begins its campaign at the Denmark Open 2026 on Tuesday. The return of the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will also be a major talking point at the BWF Super 750 tournament.
The tournament features a strong international field, with India relying on established stars and emerging talents to make an impact across the singles and doubles categories.
Sindhu, who won the Japan Open Super 750 title earlier this year, will face Olympic champion An Se-young of the Republic of Korea in the opening round. The two-time Olympic medallist, currently ranked 10th in the world, is yet to defeat An in their 10 previous meetings.
The opening encounter will provide an early test of Sindhu’s title ambitions, as she looks to overcome a difficult head-to-head record against one of the most dominant players in women’s badminton.
India’s women’s singles contingent also includes Tanvi Sharma, Ashmita Chaliha, Devika Sihag and Unnati Hooda. Tanvi and Ashmita enter the competition after winning the Taipei Open and Korea Masters, respectively, in August.
In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen will aim to regain consistency after a season affected by injuries and fluctuating results. His runner-up finish at the All England Championships earlier this year remains a significant achievement, but he faces a difficult opening-round assignment against world No. 3 Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei.
Ayush Shetty and Kidambi Srikanth complete India’s men’s singles line-up. Srikanth, a former world No. 1, returns to a tournament he won in 2017, while Shetty will look to make his mark against a competitive field.
The men’s doubles competition will see Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty return to action for the first time since their quarter-final defeat at the 2026 Asian Games, where they were unable to defend their title.
Despite that setback, the Indian pair have enjoyed a productive season on the BWF World Tour, winning the Singapore Badminton Open and China Masters. The Denmark Open offers them another opportunity to add to their title tally.
In women’s doubles, World Championships bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will lead India’s challenge. Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda are the country’s other representatives in the category.
India will have no representation in mixed doubles, concentrating its campaign on the other four categories.
With Sindhu facing the top-ranked player in the opening round, Lakshya taking on a top-three opponent and Satwik-Chirag returning after their Asian Games disappointment, the opening matches could play a crucial role in shaping India’s campaign.
Where to watch: Badminton fans in India can watch the Denmark Open 2026 live on FanCode. The tournament will not be telecast live on any television channel in the country.
India squad:
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Men’s singles: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth
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Men’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty
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Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Tanvi Sharma, Ashmita Chaliha, Devika Sihag, Unnati Hooda
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Women’s doubles: Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, Rutaparna Panda-Swetaparna Panda
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