India Open 2026: Indian stars look at Super 750 event as dress rehearsal for World Championships; top shuttlers give it a miss

New Delhi, Jan 12: With the BWF World Badminton Championships set to be staged at the same venue in August, India's leading shuttlers are approaching the India Open 2026 as a full-fledged dress rehearsal rather than just another World Tour stop.

For the home stars, the Super 750 event, starting January 13 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, offers a rare chance to combine competitive intensity with vital preparation on familiar courts.

Former world champion PV Sindhu underlined the special significance of playing at home while speaking at the pre-event press conference. "It's always nice to play the Indian Open in Delhi at the start of the year in January. I'm really happy to be playing at the home ground. What else would you need at home? The

fans are very supportive all the time, as is the federation. We will put our efforts and give our 100 per cent and hope we get some good results here," Sindhu said.

With the World Championships returning to India after 17 years, Sindhu acknowledged that the India Open provides ideal preparation. The ability to experience the court conditions, shuttle drift and match-day atmosphere months in advance is being seen as a major advantage for Indian players eyeing peak form in August.

India's premier men's doubles pair, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the importance of home support and familiarity with the venue. Chirag recalled how past success at the India Open had shaped their season.

"The first time we played the India Open was back in 2017 and it's only become bigger and bigger every year. Winning the India Open in 2022 gave us a huge boost for the season. This time too, we want to go as deep into the tournament as possible. When fans come out in big numbers, that support really pushes us to do better," he said.

Satwiksairaj highlighted the tournament's growing stature and its relevance ahead of the World Championships. "Every year the event is only growing bigger and this year we have a bigger stadium as well. In August, we have an even bigger tournament at the same venue. Last year, it was a full house from the first round and this year also we are expecting a full crowd. It's really nice to see the support only increasing every year," he said.

While Indian players are using the India Open as a crucial checkpoint on the road to August, the tournament has also seen a few top global players opt out, reflecting the demands of an increasingly packed international calendar.

With the World Championships and Asian Games looming later in the year, several elite shuttlers have chosen to manage workload and fitness early in the season. Their absence has opened up the draw but has not diminished the event's importance for those treating it as preparation for the biggest stage.

With valuable ranking points, a prize pool of USD 950,000 and the added incentive of acclimatising to the World Championships venue, the India Open 2026 has taken on a dual role. For Indian stars, it is a chance to perform in front of home fans - and just as importantly, to fine-tune every detail ahead of the ultimate test in August.