Korea Open 2026: Lakshya Sen Leads Indian Challenge After Hylo Open Triumph, Sindhu Withdraws

India will look to carry forward the momentum from a successful Hylo Open campaign when the Korea Open 2026 gets underway at Jinnam Stadium from November 3 to 8. 

The USD 500,000 BWF Super 500 tournament will feature several Indian shuttlers across singles and doubles, with Lakshya Sen leading the men's singles challenge following his title-winning performance in Germany. The tournament presents another opportunity for India's emerging players to test themselves against a strong international field. However, the Indian contingent will be without PV Sindhu, who has opted to skip both the Korea Open and the subsequent Japan Masters after winning the women's singles title at the Hylo Open.

Fifth seed Lakshya Sen will be one of India's major medal prospects in the men's singles draw. Fresh from defeating Indonesia's Jonatan Christie to win the Hylo Open 2026, Sen arrives in Korea with confidence and an opportunity to build on his latest success.

The Indian opens his campaign against China's Dong Tian Yao. While the opening-round opponent presents a new challenge, Sen's recent form will make him one of the players to watch in the draw.

His Hylo Open triumph was particularly significant. Sen defeated Christie, the World No. 6, in the final to claim his first title of the 2026 season and his second Hylo Open crown. The victory also extended his record of success against the Indonesian, having beaten him at the All England Championships in 2025.

For Sen, the immediate challenge will be to maintain the intensity and consistency that carried him through five victories in Germany. The Korea Open offers an opportunity to establish a strong run across consecutive tournaments rather than allowing his latest title to remain an isolated achievement.

HS Prannoy is the other Indian entry in men's singles. He begins against South Korea's Yoo Tae Bin, with a chance to make an early impression in front of the home crowd. Tharun Mannepalli and Rounak Chouhan, who were initially part of the Indian contingent, have withdrawn from the tournament.

Women's singles without Sindhu

The women's singles competition will see three Indian players in the main draw: Tanvi Sharma, Malvika Bansod and Anmol Kharb. Tanvi will face Japan's Manami Suizu in her opening match. The young Indian will be looking to make progress against international opposition and gain valuable experience at the Super 500 level.

Malvika Bansod faces a considerably challenging opening assignment against fourth seed Sim Yu Jin of South Korea. Playing a seeded opponent in the first round leaves little room for a slow start, and Malvika will need to produce a disciplined performance to progress.

Anmol Kharb will take on Canada's Rachel Chan. Anmol arrives after an encouraging run at the Hylo Open, where she reached the semi-finals. That performance will provide confidence as she looks to translate her recent progress into another strong showing on the international circuit.

The women's singles field will be headlined by World No. 1 An Se-young, who will be among the leading contenders for the title. The South Korean will also enjoy the advantage of competing on home soil. India, meanwhile, will not have PV Sindhu in the draw. The Hylo Open champion has decided to withdraw from both the Korea Open and Japan Masters, making her absence a significant change to the Indian challenge. 

dFollowing her title-winning week in Germany, the break provides her with an opportunity to manage her schedule rather than immediately return to competition.

India will also have representation in all three doubles categories, although the available entries suggest a smaller challenge compared with the singles events. In men's doubles, Arjun Reddy Pochana and Achutaditya Rao Doddavarapu will compete in the qualifying rounds. Their immediate objective will be to negotiate qualification and secure a place in the main draw.

The women's doubles pairing of Ritika Thaker and Sonali Singh faces Laudya Griselda and Nozomi Shimizu, representing Australia. The opening match will offer the Indian pair an opportunity to test its combination against international opposition.

In mixed doubles, Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K will take on China's seventh-seeded combination of Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian. The seeded opponents make this a challenging opening assignment, and the Indian pair will need to produce a strong performance to advance.

The Korea Open arrives at an interesting point in India's badminton season. Sen's Hylo Open victory and Anmol's semi-final appearance have provided positive momentum, while Sindhu's withdrawal means the responsibility in women's singles will fall on the younger contingent.

Sen will be the leading Indian name, but the performances of Tanvi, Malvika and Anmol will also be worth following. Prannoy's campaign and the doubles combinations will offer further opportunities for Indian players to make progress at a Super 500 tournament.

With World No. 1 An Se-young leading the women's field and several established international players competing across categories, the Korea Open promises a demanding week. For India, the priority will be to convert recent momentum into consistent performances and make a strong impression in Gwangju.