ODENSE (Denmark): Olympic hopeful Kidambi Srikanth and fast-rising Lakshya Sen will look to strike the right note from the word go as they return to competitive badminton at the $750,000 Denmark Open, which will re-start the calendar after a COVID-19 forced seven-month hiatus.
With Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap withdrawing from the tournament at the eleventh hour, all eyes will be on Srikanth and Lakshya as they resume their title hunt at the Super 750 event. Former world no 1 Srikanth, who had claimed the Denmark title three years back, had been battling a series of injuries and indifferent form in the last couple of years and the COVID-19 enforced break helped him to work on his body and game. The 27-year-old from Guntur will look for a fresh start as he tries to rediscover his old self and reclaim the lost glory. He will open against world no 52 Toby Penty of England in the second half of the draw.
Lakshya, on the other hand, had been on a title-winning spree last year, claiming as many as five titles, including two BWF World Tour Super 100 top honours — SaarLorLux Open and Dutch Open — to zoom to 32nd in the international standings.
—PTI

Press Trust of India