The Korea Open 2026 will see veteran Indian badminton player HS Prannoy and rising star Tanvi Sharma leading a smaller Indian team.
This BWF Super 500 tournament is set to kick off on Tuesday at Jinnam Stadium in South Korea, but several top Indian players have chosen to withdraw.
Notably absent from the competition will be two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, along with men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, as well as top men’s singles player Lakshya Sen, who recently triumphed at the Hylo Open.
Men’s and Women’s Singles Prospects
In the men’s singles category, Prannoy stands as India’s only representative following Sen’s exit. The former world No. 6, now ranked 38th, will face South Korea’s Yoo Tae-bin, a bronze medalist from the Asian Games, in his opening match. Prannoy has had a challenging season, managing to progress past the second round only once in 14 tournaments, with his best performance being a semifinal finish at the Vietnam Open in September.
For the women’s singles, Tanvi Sharma and Anmol Kharb will be the hopefuls for India. Tanvi aims to continue her successful run after securing her first BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open earlier this year. Malvika Bansod and Ashmita Chaliha, who previously won the Korea Masters title, have also withdrawn from the event.
Doubles Representation and Historical Achievements
In men’s doubles, India will be represented by Arjun Reddy Pochana and Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu, who will start their journey in the qualifying rounds. The women’s doubles team consists of Ritika Thaker and Sonali Singh, while Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K will compete in the mixed doubles main draw.
Historically, India has seen success at the Korea Open, with Sindhu winning the women’s singles title in 2017 and the men’s doubles team of Rankireddy and Shetty clinching the title in 2023.
Indian Contingent for Korea Open 2026
Men’s singles: HS Prannoy
Men’s doubles: Arjun Reddy Pochana and Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu (qualifying)
Women’s singles: Tanvi Sharma, Anmol Kharb
Women’s doubles: Ritika Thaker and Sonali Singh
Mixed doubles: Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K.