Singapore Open: Lakshya troubled by back issues, Satwik-Chirag return with solid win & Aakarshi, Unnati nick one set off Chinese top names
Lakshya’s Back Woes Continue
Lakshya Sen, one of India’s most promising men’s singles players, looked far from his best in his opening round match. Clearly hampered by back discomfort, Sen failed to bring his usual aggression and agility to the court. Despite showing glimpses of his fighting spirit, he bowed out early, raising concerns ahead of the busy summer schedule.
Team sources confirmed that Sen has been managing a lower back issue for the past few weeks and had reduced his training load leading into the Singapore Open. While not a serious injury, it was enough to impact his rhythm against top-tier opposition.
Satwik-Chirag Storm Back
In more positive news, India’s top-ranked doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, made a triumphant return to the BWF circuit after a short injury break. The world no. 3 duo powered past their first-round opponents in straight games, dominating the rallies with their trademark aggressive style and sharp net play.
Their performance was particularly encouraging as they gear up for the Paris Olympics later this year. Chirag, speaking after the match, said, “It felt great to be back. We’ve been working on our coordination and movement, and today was a solid first step.”
Aakarshi & Unnati Show Fight
In the women’s singles draw, Aakarshi Kashyap and young talent Unnati Hooda may have exited in the first round, but not before giving their Chinese opponents a real scare.
Aakarshi took the first game against world no. 5 He Bing Jiao before the experienced Chinese shuttler turned the tide in the next two. Unnati, still only 17, also grabbed a set off Han Yue, showcasing her grit and potential to challenge the world’s best.
Their spirited displays are seen as a positive sign for the future of Indian women’s singles, especially with the focus on building depth behind PV Sindhu.
Looking Ahead
With mixed results on day one, the Indian contingent will look to regroup quickly as the tournament progresses. All eyes will be on other top Indian names like HS Prannoy and PV Sindhu in the upcoming matches, while Satwik and Chirag aim to build on their strong start.
The Singapore Open serves as a key preparation event in the run-up to the Paris Olympics, and every match here offers critical match-time and ranking points.
