Saina Nehwal, B Sai Praneeth to lead India's attack in Orleans Masters in France

By: WE Team | Tuesday, 4 April 2023

Former Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal and B. Sai Praneeth, the former World Championships bronze medallist will lead Indian shuttlers competing at the Orleans Masters, to be held in Orleans, France. The Orleans Masters is a Super 300 level badminton tournament that will take place in Palais Des Sports this week.

P.V. Sindhu who was the runner-up at the Madrid Spain Masters last week, and the top doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, pulled out of the tournament. Therefore, no Indian player entered the event as a seeded player.

World no. 7 Carlona Marin, is the top seed in women’s singles and Kenta Nishimoto from Japan is leading the pack in men’s singles.

World No 31, Saina, and world no 49, Sai Praneeth, will face a qualifier in their respective first-round matches.

Two Indian clashes will keep an audience on their toes today as Priyanshu Rajawat will take on fellow India Kiran George in men’s singles. On the other match will be Tanya Hemanth clashing against Aakarshi Kashyap in women’s singles in the opening round.

The other Indian women’s singles players in the fray at the event are Tasnim Mir and Ashmita Chaliha.

Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto will carry forward their campaign in the women’s doubles. Additionally, young player Simran Singhi-Ritika Thaker and experienced shuttler N. Sikki Reddy, who is joining forces with Arathi Sara Sunil, will also be looking forward to making a winning bid at the event.

In mixed doubles, we will see Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy’s partners B. Summeeth Reddy and Rohan Kapoor.