Malaysia Open 2023, live streaming: PV Sindhu faces Carolina Marin in comeback match
Saina Nehwal, Lakshya Sen, and HS Prannoy are also slated to compete in 2023’s first BWF tournament. Watch live!
Badminton
After ending the 2022 season early due to injury, PV Sindhu is all set for a return to the court in the Malaysia Open 2023, which starts at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur from Tuesday.
Sindhu, however, will face a tough test on her comeback, having been drawn against Rio 2016 Olympic champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the first round of women’s singles.
The Malaysia Open, which has been upgraded from BWF Super 750 to BWF Super 1000 status this year, will kickstart the BWF World Tour 2023 season.
Carolina Marin famously defeated PV Sindhu in an intense Rio 2016 women’s singles final and also leads the Indian badminton player 9-6 in the head-to-head records. The meeting at the Malaysia Open will be the 16th meeting between the two former world champions and Olympic medallists. Watch Malaysia Open badminton live in India!
Though world No. 7 PV Sindhu is ranked two places above Carolina Marin in the latest BWF badminton world rankings, the Spaniard won their last meeting at the 2021 Swiss Open final in straight games.
London 2012 bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, Malvika Bansod and Aakarshi Kashyap are the other three Indian badminton players slated to compete in the women’s singles. All three will look to start the year on a positive note.
India’s men’s singles contingent at the Malaysia Open will see India’s two top-ranked players, HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen, battle for a spot in the round of 16. Lakshya Sen, ranked 10th, leads world No. 8 HS Prannoy 3-2 in head-to-head.
World No. 13 Kidambi Srikanth, who has been struggling for form lately, will square up against world No. 17 Kenta Nishimoto of Japan in the first round.
In men’s doubles, world championships bronze medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will be leading India’s challenge while Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly will vie for the title in women’s doubles.
The Malaysia Open 2023 will conclude on January 15. No Indian has ever won a medal at the Malaysia Open.
Where to watch Malaysia Open 2023 badminton live in India
Live streaming of the Malaysia Open 2023 will be available on Badminton World Federation’s official YouTube channel BWF TV and the Jio Cinema app and website. Malaysia Open badminton will be telecast on the Sports 18 1 and Sports 18 1 HD TV channel in India.
Malaysia Open 2023 badminton: India squad
Men’s singles: HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth
Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Malvika Bansod, Aakarshi Kashyap
Men’s doubles: Chirag Shetty/Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Krishna Garaga/Vishnuvardhan Panjala
Women’s doubles: Ashwini Bhat/Shikha Gautam, Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand