PV Sindhu Misses Swiss Open After Dubai Turmoil; Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy Lead Indian Squad
PV Sindhu will not appear at the Swiss Open after a stressful three‑day episode in Dubai, and the Indian contingent will be anchored by Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy.
- Feroz Khan
PV Sindhu had earlier withdrawn from the All England Championships after being stranded in Dubai following the US and Israeli bombing of Iran.
Two‑time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will sit out the Swiss Open as the aftermath of the three‑day Dubai episode continues to dominate her schedule. In her absence, the Indian challenge will be driven by Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy, who are slated to compete in the USD 250,000 event that commences on Tuesday.
PV Sindhu was forced to pull out of the All England Championships after an unexpected halt in Dubai airspace caused by geopolitical tension. The restriction stemmed from the United States and Israeli bombing of Iran and the subsequent retaliation by Tehran, which led to a three‑day stay in Dubai for PV Sindhu. The travel plan that would have taken PV Sindhu from Dubai to Birmingham was rendered impossible by the airspace closure.
Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra explained the situation to PTI, stating, “PV Sindhu is not playing at the Swiss Open. We all know what PV Sindhu went through in Dubai; PV Sindhu couldn’t travel to Birmingham. So PV Sindhu has sought some time to recover from it.” The statement emphasizes the need for PV Sindhu to recuperate following the stressful interruption.
Upon returning to India, PV Sindhu openly described the emotional toll of the Dubai incident. PV Sindhu admitted that maintaining composure was a considerable challenge and expressed hope that the experience would remain singular in PV Sindhu’s career. PV Sindhu’s remarks captured the intensity of the situation: “There was a lot of stress. And it was scary. I think the only thing maybe was to stay calm. I know that’s not the ideal situation where you say we are calm, but we’re not inside.” PV Sindhu also added, “Actually, it is very stressful. But I think it is an experience, I must say. And I hope it’s the first and the last experience like this.”
Looking forward, PV Sindhu is expected to rejoin competitive play at the Badminton Asia Championships. The upcoming tournament will provide PV Sindhu with an opportunity to gauge form after the interruption.
In the men’s singles draw, Kidambi Srikanth will open the campaign against Jason Gunawan. Kidambi Srikanth entered the tournament after reaching two finals in the previous season, one at the Malaysia Masters and the other at the Syed Modi International. The match against Jason Gunawan represents Kidambi Srikanth’s first challenge in the Swiss Open.
HS Prannoy, the 2023 World Championships bronze medallist and Asian Games bronze winner, will take on Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the opening round. HS Prannoy’s recent accolades underscore the strength he brings to the Indian squad.
Tharun Mannepalli, a teammate of HS Prannoy at the academy, will meet Japanese competitor Kenta Nishimoto. Ayush Shetty will face Canada’s Brian Yang, while Kiran George will encounter Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew. These match‑ups illustrate the broad representation of Indian talent across the tournament’s early stages.
In the men’s doubles category, world No. 4 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will square off against Singapore’s Eng Keat Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty recently experienced an opening‑round exit at the All England Championships, making their performance in the Swiss Open a focal point for the Indian contingent.
Another Indian men’s doubles pair, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun, will contest the Chinese Taipei duo Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh. The encounter promises a test of synergy and tactical acumen for Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun.
In the women’s singles draw, the vacancy left by PV Sindhu will be filled by Unnati Hooda, who will meet Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Pin‑Chian. Malvika Bansod will compete against Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong, adding depth to the Indian presence in the women’s singles bracket.
The women’s doubles pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela will confront the Chinese Taipei team of Hu Ling Fang and Zheng Yu Chieh. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela captured the Syed Modi International Super 300 title for a second straight year, but they were eliminated in the opening round of the All England Championships. Their performance in the Swiss Open will be closely watched.
Mixed doubles will see Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto taking on Denmark’s Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund. Additionally, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika will match up against Thailand’s Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat. These mixed‑doubles fixtures add further dimensions to the Indian challenge.
The Badminton Association of India remains confident that the Indian squad, led by Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy, will showcase resilience and competitive spirit. The collective experience of the athletes, ranging from Olympic podium finishes to recent finals appearances, forms a solid foundation for a strong Indian showing at the Swiss Open.
With the tournament’s substantial prize pool, each match carries both financial incentive and ranking significance. The Indian players are expected to leverage their recent experiences, adapt to match conditions, and seek to advance deep into the draws.
