Sabasports Match Preview
Syed Modi India International 2023
2023-11-21 to 2023-11-26
Source: REUTERS/ADNAN ABIDI
The 2023 Syed Modi India International is scheduled to take place in
India from November 28th to December 3rd. This tournament is classified as a
Super 300 event and offers a total prize money of US$210,000. The distribution
of event points for the players is as follows: the champion will receive 7,000
event points, the runner-up will receive 5,950 points, the top 4 players will
receive 4,900 points, the top 8 players will receive 3,850 points, the top 16
players will receive 2,750 points, the top 32 players will receive 1,670
points, and the top 64 players will receive 660 points. Due to the proximity of
the BWF World Tour Finals scheduled from December 13th to 17th, several
top-ranked players have chosen to withdraw from this event. Notable examples
include Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, who holds the world No. 1 ranking in men’s
singles, and Kunlavut Vitidsarn from Thailand, who is ranked sixth in the world
in men’s singles, among others.
Syed Modi India International holds a special significance as it is
dedicated to the memory of Syed Modi, a highly talented Indian badminton
singles player. Syed Modi achieved remarkable success in his career, winning
the Indian National Badminton Championships men’s singles title for eight
consecutive years from 1980 to 1987. He also claimed the gold medal in the
men’s singles event at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and earned a bronze medal at
the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi. Tragically, on July 28, 1988, at the
age of 26, Syed Modi was shot and killed as he was leaving the gym after a
regular training session. His untimely death abruptly halted a promising career
that was at its peak. Initially, suspicions were raised regarding Modi’s wife
and her lover’s involvement in the murder. However, due to a lack of evidence,
the government eventually dropped the investigation. In 1991, Indian actor and
director Dev Anand released a film titled “Sau Crore” (Poverty and
Riches), which depicted the events surrounding Syed Modi’s murder. The film
served as an adaptation of the tragic incident. To honor Syed Modi’s memory and
contributions to badminton, the Badminton Association of India named a
tournament after him, which is now known as the Syed Modi India International.
As the event being held in India, it attracts active participation
from Indian players, particularly in the men’s singles category. In the main
draw, eight Indian players have qualified, and two Indian players will
participate in the qualifying rounds. PRANNOY H. S. represents India as the top
seed in the men’s singles category of the tournament. He holds the world No. 8 ranking.
Another Indian player, Lakshya Sen, is seeded fourth in the men’s singles
category and is ranked No. 17 in the world. Based on the tournament’s draw, if
both players perform consistently, they may face each other in the semi-finals.
In the mixed doubles category, the Malaysian pair of Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei
Jing are the fourth seeds in this tournament. They are currently ranked 21st in
the world in mixed doubles. Their aim is to clinch the championship, and if
they succeed, their world ranking is projected to improve to 14th.