The Arctic Open Super 500 tournament, set to kick off in Vantaa, Finland, from October 8 to 13, 2024, will see India’s top shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen leading the Indian contingent.
Both athletes are eager to bounce back from their Olympic disappointments in Paris, where neither managed to secure a medal.
This tournament offers a fresh opportunity for them to reset their goals and reclaim their form on the international stage.
Squad Overview
PV Sindhu: Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has revamped her coaching team after her exit in the round of 16 at the Paris Olympics.
She has now teamed up with Indian coach Anup Sridhar and Korean legend Lee Syun Il.
Sindhu will look to reclaim her dominance in women’s singles, starting with a challenging opening-round match against Canada’s Michelle Li.
Lakshya Sen: After narrowly missing out on a medal in the bronze medal playoff in Paris, Lakshya Sen has spent time at Austria’s Red Bull Arena for physical assessment and recovery.
His campaign at the Arctic Open begins with a tough match against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke, and he will be aiming to settle scores after his previous loss to Gemke at the India Open in 2023.
Other Indian Contenders
• Kidambi Srikanth: Returning from a four-month injury layoff, former world number one Kidambi Srikanth had a good outing at the Macau Open and will look to build on that here. He will face fellow Indian Kiran George in his first match.
• Malvika Bansod & Aakarshi Kashyap: Both are in strong form, with Malvika coming off a quarterfinal finish at the China Open Super 1000. Malvika will face Sung Shuo Yun of Chinese Taipei, while Aakarshi will take on Germany’s Yvonne Li in the first round.
• Unnati Hooda: Another young talent, Unnati Hooda, will compete in the qualifiers against Israel’s Heli Neiman, aiming to make her mark at the event.
In women’s doubles, Rituparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda will represent India, while Sathish Kumar Karunakaran will team up with Aadya Variyath in the mixed doubles event.
Schedule Overview
The Arctic Open is scheduled to take place from October 8 to 13, 2024, at the Vantaa Energia Arena.
Here’s a breakdown of the event schedule:
• Tuesday, October 8: Qualifying matches and the first round of women’s singles and mixed doubles, starting at 8:00 am.
• Wednesday, October 9: First rounds of the main competition across all disciplines.
• Thursday, October 10: Round of 16 matches for all disciplines, starting at 10:00 am.
• Friday, October 11: Quarterfinal matches begin at 2:00 pm.
• Saturday, October 12: Semi-finals in two sessions, with matches at 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
• Sunday, October 13: The finals will take place at 12:00 pm, featuring five championship matches.
Key Matches to Watch
• PV Sindhu vs Michelle Li: Sindhu will face a familiar foe in her first-round match.
If she progresses, she may encounter 18-year-old Japanese sensation Tomako Miyazaki, against whom she lost at the Swiss Open earlier this year.
• Lakshya Sen vs Rasmus Gemke: A highly anticipated opening round, as Sen looks to avenge his loss to Gemke at the 2023 India Open.
Should he progress, a potential match against seventh-seeded Chou Tien Chen awaits.
Live Streaming for Arctic Open 2024
Badminton enthusiasts in India can watch the Arctic Open 2024 live on the official YouTube channel of the BWF, known as BWF TV.
The Arctic Open promises intense competition as Sindhu, Sen, and the Indian contingent aim to make their mark on the global badminton stage once again.
Fans will be eager to see if the top shuttlers can overcome their recent setbacks and deliver winning performances in Finland.