HS Prannoy will spearhead the Indian challenge at the China Open BWF Super-1000 tournament, which begins in Changzhou on Tuesday. Prannoy, who stunned Viktor Axelsen and Loh Kean Yew to win bronze at the Worlds, is likely to meet the same opponents at the China Open.
Lakshya Sen, also drawn in the same half, will look to hit top gear before the Asian Games begin on September 23.
There will be no Indian presence in women's singles as PV Sindhu, who won a silver in the 2018 Asiad, pulled out of the event to focus on the Games.
Prannoy begins against Ng Tze Yong of Malaysia and is likely to play Priyanshu Rajwat next. Priyanshu was drawn against world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn but the Thai pulled out, enabling Shesar Hiren Rhustavito of Indonesia to make the main draw. If Prannoy clears the first two rounds, he may face fifth seed Jonathan Christie of Indonesia in the quarterfinals. "I got a tough first round. But I will take it match by match," Prannoy said.
Lakshya plays Anders Antonsen, a bronze medallist at the Worlds, in the first round. Lakshya may have to deal with former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the second round and Axelsen in the quarterfinals.
