Satwik and Chirag take centre stage as India aim for a strong start at the Malaysia Open

The Malaysia Super 1000 tournament, a prestigious badminton event, commences on Tuesday. India's top doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, are aiming for a strong start to the season. Lakshya Sen seeks to build on his recent successes, while HS Prannoy returns after a break.
Satwik and Chirag, the seventh seeds, begin their 2025 campaign at the same tournament where they started in 2024.
Last year, the duo reached four finals, securing titles in two.
The Asian Games gold medallists hope to continue their winning streak. Reuniting with coach Kim Tan Her, the former world number one pair is determined to achieve further success.
Their path is challenging, with a tough draw featuring high-calibre opponents.
Their first match is against Ming Che Lu and Tang Kai Wei of Chinese Taipei.
A potential quarter-final clash looms against Indonesia's fourth seeds, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto.
In men's singles, Lakshya Sen aims to maintain his momentum. He recently won the Syed Modi International Super 300 and finished third at the King Cup International.
These victories have boosted his confidence as he enters the Super 1000 event.
HS Prannoy returns after a five-month break following the Paris Olympics.
The 32-year-old's absence was due to chikungunya and the need to regain fitness. He faces Canada's Brian Yang in the first round.
Priyanshu Rajawat, seeking consistency, faces seventh-seeded Li Shi Feng of China in his opening match.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, is absent due to her recent marriage. Other Indian women's singles players will compete in her stead.
Malvika Bansod plays Malaysia's Goh Jin Wei, Aakarshi Kashyap faces Denmark's Julie Dawall Jakobsen, and Anupama Upadhyaya challenges eighth-seeded Pornpawee Chochuwong.
In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, seeded sixth, aim to build on their recent Super 300 title win in Lucknow and their participation in the BWF World Tour Finals.
Their first opponents are Thailand's Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn and Sukitta Suwachai.
Eighth seeds Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa, who recently defended their Guwahati Masters Super 100 title, will face Japan's Misaki Matsutomo and Chiharu Shida. The Panda sisters, Rutuparna and Swetaparna, will also participate.
In mixed doubles, Tanisha Crasto partners with Dhruv Kapila. Sathish Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath, along with Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh, will also represent India.