Top five Indian players to watch at All England Open 2024

Two Indians have previously won the All England Open title.

Established in 1899, the All England Open Badminton Championships stand as the world’s oldest badminton tournament. With a history deeply rooted in England, the tournament has evolved significantly over the years, gaining international acclaim.

It achieved Super Series status in 2007 and was further upgraded to Super Series Premier status in 2011 under the Badminton World Federation’s grading system. The All England Open, which originated from the success of the world’s first open tournament held in Guildford in 1898, has become a cornerstone event in the badminton calendar, attracting top players from around the globe.

Initially featuring only doubles formats in its inaugural edition, the tournament quickly expanded to include singles events from its second edition onward. Regarded as the unofficial world championship of the sport, especially after the inception of the Thomas Cup series in 1949, the All England Open maintained its prestigious status until 1977 when the International Badminton Federation launched its official championships.

Fast forward to 2024, the All England Open continues its tradition of excellence, serving as the seventh tournament of the BWF World Tour and offering a total prize pool of US$1,300,000. Organized by Badminton England with sanction from the BWF, the 2024 edition will unfold at the Utilita Arena Birmingham in England, showcasing the pinnacle of badminton talent and competition from March 12 to 17.

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In particular, the Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be the ones to watch, having already made waves in the badminton world. In the previous Super 1000 tournament (Malaysia Open), Satwik and Chirag showcased their competency by reaching the final.

Notably, they also made history by becoming the first Indian pair to be seeded number one at the esteemed All England Open, further solidifying their status as formidable contenders in the world of badminton. As they set their sights on the upcoming tournament, fans can expect nothing short of a spectacular performance from this talented Indian duo.

PV Sindhu is set to compete in her second BWF World Tour tournament of 2024, following her participation in the French Open. Her journey doesn’t promise to be an easy one, as she’s anticipated to face An Se Young in the second round. Sindhu has yet to secure a victory against Young.

Top five Indian Players to watch at All England 2024

Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela

Often referred to as Treesa-Gayatri’s unofficial home ground, the All England has been the most special tournament for the young pair since their debut. In 2022, from the reserves list, they made it to the semifinals of the tournament, followed by a series of upsets. A similar streak of form was seen in 2023 as well, where they defended their semi-final finish at the same tournament.

In 2024, with the Paris Olympics on the horizon, they’re expected to go all out at their favorite battleground. Despite tough draws on paper, at All England, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand consistently delivers their best.

Lakshya Sen

The 2022 All England runner-up is back on a spree of wins after crashing out of seven consecutive BWF World Tour tournaments in the very first round. His fantastic run at the French Open shows promise for a good European leg for him. Lakshya Sen has broken into the top 16 of the Race to Paris Olympics ranking list and would want to remain stable in that position.

Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto

Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto had just one deep run at the Malaysia Open this season. With their compatriots, Treesa-Gayatri, chasing a spot for the Paris Olympics 2024 and the Stoeva sisters as well, they would like to increase their lead in the race. With a decent draw in their favor, some gain in points is on the cards.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have repeatedly expressed their ambition to clinch the All England Open title this year. Since their impressive performance at the China Masters 2023, they have consistently reached the final match in every tournament—a testament to their other goal of advancing deep into tournaments. Their determination is evident as they’ve secured a spot in the finals of the ongoing French Open 2024.

HS Prannoy

After a lackluster start to 2024, HS Prannoy is looking to regain his form at the All England Open 2024. With a favorable draw, he is expected to make a significant impact in Birmingham, which is crucial for maintaining his top eight seed for the Paris Olympics. As the second-to-last BWF Race to Paris Olympics qualification tournament approaches, Prannoy must deliver a strong performance to secure a better seeding.

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