Korea Open 2026: HS Prannoy and Tanvi Sharma Lead Lean Indian Squad
HS Prannoy and Tanvi Sharma headline a slimmed-down Indian squad for the BWF Super 500 Korea Open 2026 as top stars opt out.
The India squad Korea Open 2026 is set to take flight, but it will be a significantly leaner contingent this time around. Veteran shuttler HS Prannoy and rising star Tanvi Sharma are tasked with leading the charge at the BWF Super 500 tournament, which kicks off this Tuesday at the Jinnam Stadium in South Korea.
Top Stars Opt Out
India enters this prestigious tournament without several of its biggest names. In a surprising turn, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, the powerhouse men's doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and the recently triumphant Hylo Open champion Lakshya Sen have all opted out of the event.
The absence of Lakshya Sen leaves HS Prannoy as the sole warrior for India in the men's singles category. The 34-year-old former world No. 6, currently ranked 38th, faces a challenging start to his campaign against South Korea's own Yoo Tae-bin, an Asian Games bronze medalist.
Prannoy’s Quest for Redemption
For HS Prannoy, the Korea Open represents a critical opportunity to bounce back. The World Championships bronze medalist has faced a grueling season, struggling for consistency. Out of 14 BWF tournaments played this year, he has managed to advance past the second round only once. His solitary highlight came in September at the Vietnam Open, where he fought his way into the semifinals of the Super 100 event.
Hope in the Women's Singles
While the men's singles is a one-man show, the women's singles category sees Tanvi Sharma and Anmol Kharb carrying the nation's expectations in the main draw. Tanvi Sharma enters the tournament with significant momentum, having secured her first-ever BWF World Tour title at the Taipei Open earlier this year.
The Indian women's contingent suffered a few setbacks before the start, as Malvika Bansod and Ashmita Chaliha—the latter being a Korea Masters champion this year—both withdrew from the competition.
Doubles Representation
India's presence in the doubles categories is equally limited:
- Men's Doubles: Arjun Reddy Pochana and Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu will fight their way through the qualifying rounds.
- Women's Doubles: The pairing of Ritika Thaker and Sonali Singh will represent the country.
- Mixed Doubles: Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K will compete in the main draw.
A History of Success in Korea
Despite the depleted squad, India has a strong legacy at the Korea Open. The nation has tasted glory here before, with PV Sindhu clinching the women's singles title in 2017 and the duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty dominating the men's doubles to take the crown in 2023.
Full India Squad for Korea Open 2026:
- Men's Singles: HS Prannoy
- Men's Doubles: Arjun Reddy Pochana-Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu (Qualifying)
- Women's Singles: Tanvi Sharma, Anmol Kharb
- Women's Doubles: Ritika Thaker-Sonali Singh
- Mixed Doubles: Dhruv Rawat-Maneesha K.