Kumamoto Masters Japan: PV Sindhu, Lakshya to lead Indian challenge

Indian star shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen will return to action at the BWF World Tour's Kumamoto Masters Super 500 tournament in Kumamoto, Japan, from November 12 to 17.

This tournament is the penultimate event counting toward the BWF World Tour Finals 2024, offering a significant number of points for players aiming to break into the top 8 through these final tournaments.

Veteran PV Sindhu will make her return after a month's break, facing Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand in the first round. She will be the sole Indian representative in the women's singles category.

On the other hand, Lakshya Sen will be the only Indian player in the men's singles category and has a comparatively easier draw, starting with a first-round match against unseeded Jun Hao Leong of Malaysia.

Treesa-Gayatri eyes a spot at the BWF World Tour Final

The Indian women's doubles pairing of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are the only Indians currently in the top 8 of the World Tour rankings and have a strong chance of qualifying for the season finale.

They will aim to further increase their ranking and solidify their position with a strong performance at this tournament. Their campaign begins with a first-round match against the Chinese Taipei pairing of Hsu Yin-hui and Lin Jhin-yun.

If they win this match, they could face the tough second-seeded Chinese pairing of Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in the second round.