Denmark Open 2016: Time for 'Sindhu Sindhu' again
- Sindhu was the runner's up in Denmark in 2015.
- The expectations on her have doubled due to her silver medal in Rio Oylympics 2016.
- She is India's only hope in the absence of Saina Nehwal.
FollowSindhu, who recently became the first Indian shuttler to bag an Olympic silver in the singles event, will play the first round against China's He Bingjiao.
If Sindhu goes past the Chinese, the next few rounds can get tricky as she would face the likes of second seed Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, Korean fourth seed Sung Ji Hyun and the Chinese Taipei girl Tai Tzu Ying, seeded fifth.
Denmark Open is the ninth tournament of the 2016 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super Series. Sindhu, who was the runner's up of the 2015 Denmark Open, will enter this edition as the sixth seed.
Saina Nehwal, who is still recovering from her injury, is the only Indian to have won a Super Series tournament this season from the Indian camp. She clinched the trophy in Australia, beating China's Sun Yu.
In the absence of Nehwal, the expectations on Sindhu have doubled, who is yet to win a Super Series title. However, the 21-year-old from Hyderabad is confident enough despite being out of practice for some time.
"I am satisfied with my preparation. We worked hard on several aspects particularly my defence. Hopefully, I should get good results, " Sindhu, who was forced to miss Korea and Japan Open due to lack of practice, told PTI.
After a sensational performance in the women's singles event at the Rio Games 2016, Sindhu will be under immense pressure to replicate that show in Demark.
"I am quite excited to be back in the circuit. The draw is very tough. I start against a Chinese girl. But I am fine with it. In big tournaments like Denmark you expect this kind of draws," she added.
Meanwhile, in the men's draw, India will miss Kadambi Srikanth, who withdrew due to a stress fracture he suffered during the Japan tournament last month. In Srikanth's absence, Ajay Jayaram, who lost the Dutch Open final on Sunday, will lead the charge.
The other Indian men who will play in the main draw are HS Prannoy and Sai Praneeth, while Parupalli Kashyap will play the qualifiers on Tuesday.
