Denmark Open 2026: Sindhu and Sen face tough opening draws against top seeds

Indian badminton stars are bracing for a difficult start at the upcoming Denmark Open Super 750, as the tournament draw has pitted several key players against top seeds in their opening encounters. The event, which begins tomorrow, features a strong Indian contingent looking to make their mark on the international circuit following a series of demanding competitions in recent weeks.In the women’s singles category, double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu faces a formidable challenge against World No. 1 An Se-young. The South Korean shuttler enters the tournament in commanding form, having recently secured titles at both the World Championships and the Asian Games. Sindhu, who reached the quarter-finals at last week’s Arctic Open, will be looking to break a challenging streak against the Korean opponent, having lost all of their ten previous encounters.Other Indian women in the draw also face testing opposition. Unnati Hooda is scheduled to play China's Han Qian Xi, while Ashmita Chaliha, who claimed her first tour title at the Korea Open Super 300, is set to face Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova. Meanwhile, Tanvi Sharma will take on Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, and Devika Sihag will meet Thailand’s eighth seed, Pornpawee Chochuwong, in what promises to be a rigorous opening round for the Indian squad.The men's singles field will see Lakshya Sen compete against Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien-chen, a World Championships medallist and the tournament's third seed. Joining him is Ayush Shetty, who faces a familiar rival in Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan. The two previously met at the World Championships, where Farhan emerged victorious, and the Indonesian youngster further demonstrated his potential by securing a bronze medal at the Asian Games. Elsewhere, veteran Kidambi Srikanth, who previously won this tournament in 2017, is set to open his campaign against Arnaud Merkle of France.In the men’s doubles, the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are aiming to regain momentum following a difficult first-round exit at the Asian Games. Having claimed the China Masters title last month, the duo enters as the fifth seeds and will begin their tournament against the Chinese pair of He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu.The Indian women’s doubles campaign will be spearheaded by Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand. The pair, who have consistently been among the top-performing Indian shuttlers over the past three months, will look to leverage their recent success at the World Championships and their quarter-final run at the Asian Games. They are scheduled to face the Chinese Taipei pair of Yan Fei Chen and Hsieh Pei Shan in their opening match.As the tournament commences, the focus will remain on how these athletes navigate their respective draws. Given the calibre of the opponents involved, the opening days are expected to provide a significant test for the Indian players' form and resilience. Supporters will be closely watching to see if the Indian contingent can overcome these initial obstacles to advance deeper into the Super 750 event.