Denmark Open 2026: PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen Lead Four-Member Indian Singles Challenge on Opening Day

India begins its campaign at the Denmark Open 2026 with four singles players in action on Tuesday, as PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Tanvi Sharma and Kidambi Srikanth prepare for their opening-round matches at the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.

Lakshya faces the toughest assignment on paper against third seed Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei, while two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu takes on Germany’s Yvonne Li. Rising Indian shuttler Tanvi meets Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, and experienced campaigner Srikanth opens against France’s Arnaud Merkle.

With the draw reshaped by withdrawals ahead of the tournament, the opening day also presents a potentially interesting pathway in women’s singles. If results go India's way, Sindhu and Tanvi could meet in the second round, guaranteeing an Indian presence in the next stage.

Denmark Open 2026: India’s Schedule Today

The four Indian singles players are scheduled to compete at the following times, as provided in the tournament schedule. All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST).

Match timings may change depending on the duration of preceding encounters.

The headline encounter features Lakshya Sen, ranked 14th in the supplied draw, against world No. 3 and third seed Chou Tien-chen. The Indian leads their head-to-head record 5-4, giving him a narrow advantage despite the difference in their current rankings. Their rivalry has produced several closely contested matches, including Sen’s victory over Chou in the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Indian has shown that he can absorb the Taiwanese player’s attacking pressure and turn extended rallies into opportunities to counterattack.

Chou, however, arrives with an impressive résumé and the experience to manage difficult opening-round matches. Sen will need to maintain his defensive intensity while remaining patient in neutral rallies. Rushed attacking shots and unforced errors could allow the third seed to establish control. For Sen, a victory would provide an important early boost in a tournament featuring many of the leading players on the international circuit.

Sindhu, ranked 10th in the supplied draw, will face Germany’s Yvonne Li, ranked 44th. Sindhu leads their head-to-head record 3-0 and will look to use that advantage to begin her campaign positively. The women’s singles draw has changed following two withdrawals, meaning Sindhu will no longer face South Korea’s An Se-young in the opening round as previously anticipated.

The revised draw creates a potential second-round meeting between Sindhu and Tanvi Sharma, provided both Indians win their first matches. Such a contest would guarantee one Indian player a place in the next round, although it would also bring an early end to the other’s campaign. Sindhu’s immediate priority will be to negotiate Li’s challenge before looking further ahead. A disciplined performance, particularly in controlling the pace of rallies and limiting errors, could help her settle into the tournament.

Tanvi Sharma, ranked 25th, takes on Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, ranked 33rd. Tanvi leads their head-to-head record 1-0, giving the young Indian a positive starting point. Nidaira’s Japanese badminton background suggests a contest in which rally construction, movement and consistency could be important. Tanvi will need to balance patience with timely attacking decisions, especially when opportunities arise to take control of the rally.

A win would put her in contention for a possible second-round clash against Sindhu, making this one of the more intriguing fixtures for Indian fans on opening day.

Srikanth, ranked 31st, will face France’s Arnaud Merkle, ranked 43rd. The Indian leads their head-to-head record 2-0 and will aim to extend that advantage. The former world No. 1 brings considerable international experience, but his focus will be on converting that experience into a composed opening-round performance. Maintaining control during important points and avoiding prolonged lapses in concentration will be essential.

A win would strengthen India’s men’s singles challenge, particularly on a day when Sen faces one of the tournament’s highest-ranked players.

There are 11 Indian entries across the tournament’s five disciplines: three in men’s singles, five in women’s singles, one in men’s doubles and two in women’s doubles.

Japan leads the listed national representation with 23 entries, followed by Chinese Taipei with 21, China with 16, Malaysia with 15 and Indonesia with 14. India’s 11 entries underline the country’s presence across multiple categories, although the four singles players will be the focus of Tuesday’s schedule.

The Denmark Open offers a demanding test against international opposition, and the opening round will set the tone for India’s campaign. Sen faces a major challenge against Chou, Sindhu has a favourable head-to-head record, Tanvi will seek to extend her advantage over Nidaira, and Srikanth will look to continue his unbeaten record against Merkle.

Four wins would give India an ideal start. More immediately, the possibility of a Sindhu-Tanvi second-round encounter adds extra significance to the women’s singles matches.

For the Indian contingent, the objective is clear: navigate the opening round, build momentum and give themselves the opportunity to make a deeper run at one of badminton’s leading World Tour events.