Lakshya, Tanvi lead challenge at US Open Super 300

Seasoned campaigner Lakshya Sen and rising star Tanvi Sharma will lead India’s challenge at the US Open Super 300 badminton tournament beginning here on Tuesday.

India will have a sizeable presence across the singles draws, including former world championships silver-medallist Kidambi Srikanth and a seven-strong women’s team.

World Number 14 and Paris Olympics semifinalist Sen has been seeded second and drawn to face Belgium’s Julien Carraggi in the opening round. Placed in the opposite half of the draw is top seed and world No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, who headlines the men’s singles field.

Sen enjoys a 5-4 head-to-head record against Chou, having won their last two meetings, and could run into him if he goes all the way.

The Indian will be eager to bounce back after a disappointing first-round exit at the Indonesia Open earlier this month. Former world championships silver-medallist Srikanth is the other seeded Indian in men’s singles.