India Open 2024 live streaming: All you need to know about Super ...

India Open 2024: Indian stars HS Prannoy and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty will take center stage as the Super 750 badminton tournament gets underway from January 16 in New Delhi.

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The action shifts from Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi as the world's top badminton stars will be in the city for the India Open, a top-tier Super 750 badminton tournament. The focus will be on Indian stars despite the absence of PV Sindhu, who is only expected to make her comeback from a long injury lay-off next month.

India shuttlers had a disappointing run at home last year as their challenge ended in the second round. However, 2021 champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be looking to go the distance after having reached the final of the Malaysia Open, the season-opening Super 1000 tournament last week.

Viktor Axelsen will be a major absentee as he pulled out from the India Open after falling ill in Malaysia last week. The Olympic Gold medallist expressed his disappointment at not traveling to India where he is much-loved.

Elevated from the Super 500 to the Super 750 status last year, the India Open 2024 is set to take place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the capital city from January 16 to 21.

The Super 750 tournament will provide Indian players with the opportunity to accumulate significantly higher ranking points on their home turf, thereby enhancing their quest for qualification for the Paris Olympics.

India Open Badminton Tournament will be broadcast live on TV on EuroSports. JioCinema will provide live streaming for the matches.

The 2023 World Championships bronze medallist HS Prannoy, currently ranked 8th in the Race to Paris rankings, will be aiming to climb higher in the rankings as he kicks off his campaign against Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei.

Highlighting the high stakes involved in the tournament, HS Prannoy said, "The India Open holds immense significance for me but this year is extra special as it will be providing a pedestal to improve my ranking ahead of the Summer Olympics. Playing on home soil will be an added boost, and the support of our fans adds an extra layer of motivation."

As per the Paris Olympics qualification regulations, India can have two men's singles players in the Top-16 by April 30, 2024.

LAKSHYA, SRIKANTH LOOK FOR GOOD RUN

Currently, ranked 17th in the Race to Paris rankings, Lakshya Sen who won the India Open in 2022, will commence his campaign against the emerging talent Priyanshu Rawat, with an eye on securing the coveted second spot.

Alongside Prannoy and Sen, the 10-player Indian contingent will be spearheaded by Asian Games gold medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy in the men's doubles and former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth in the men's singles category.

In women's doubles, the pairs of Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Ashwini Ponnappa-Tanisha Crasto will be aiming to strengthen their position in the Race to Paris rankings.

With a prize pool of USD 850,000, the India Open 2024 will witness a total of 247 shuttlers from 23 countries who will enthral the fans with their captivating performances.

The reigning World champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand will also be a part of the galaxy of stars gracing the tournament as he gears up to defend his India Open title.

In the women's singles category, three-time champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and the Japanese duo of two-time World Champion Akane Yamaguchi and Rio Olympics bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara, are set to compete.

With five players in men's singles, four in women's singles, ten each in both doubles categories, and eight in mixed doubles, Japan boasts the largest contingent at the tournament, with a total of 37 players competing across all categories.

Following Japan, China have fielded the second-largest contingent comprising 34 players, followed by Taiwan with 23 players.