India’s Srikanth Kidambi is looking to bounce back from his semi-final exit at the BWF Malaysia Open as he bids to defend his Indonesia Open crown in Jakarta this week ©Getty Images

India’s Srikanth Kidambi is looking to bounce back from his semi-final exit at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Malaysia Open as he bids to defend his Indonesia Open crown in Jakarta this week.

Speaking at the pre-event press conference, Kidambi admitted he was keen to shrug off the memories of his 21-13, 21-13 defeat to Japan’s Kento Momota on Saturday (June 30).

The fourth seed will face the same opponent in the first round of the event in the Indonesian capital, an HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000 event, held at the newly-refurbished Istora Gelora Bung Karno.

"Momota is very tough but I am looking forward to getting back on court," Kidambi said.

"I want to play better than Saturday.

"It wasn’t close."

Kidambi acknowledged that while he enjoyed a "fantastic year" in 2017, winning four events in all, his victory in Indonesia last year does not necessarily install him as the one to beat in the men’s singles.

"A lot of others are playing well and may be favourites also, including Momota," he added.

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen is the top seed in the men’s draw, while South Korea’s Son Wan Ho is seeded second.

They are first due to meet Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie and Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus respectively.

Third seed Shi Yuqi of China opens his campaign against England’s Rajiv Ouseph.

A selection of international players, including Srikanth Kidambi, right, attended the pre-event press conference ©BWF
A selection of international players, including Srikanth Kidambi, right, attended the pre-event press conference ©BWF

Kidambi’s level of caution was echoed by Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol, who returns to the event at which she had one of her biggest triumphs.

Despite her runners-up finish in the women’s singles in 2017, she has the daunting prospect of starting her campaign against Momota’s team-mate Akane Yamaguchi, the second seed.

"I’ve never beaten her and to meet her in the first round is hard," Jindapol, who captained her country to a historic silver medal in the Uber Cup in May, said.

Jindapol may take some inspiration, however, from her headline-grabbing heroics in the quarter-finals in Indoensia last year, when she ended world number one Tai Tzu-ying’s winning streak which had begun in Hong Kong in November 2016.

At the time, Chinese Taipei’s Tai was the defending Indonesia Open champion and was aiming for a sixth straight tour title.

"That was a great match for me and I hope to play like that again," Jindapol said.

"All the women’s singles players in the top-50 are capable of beating each other.

"It just depends on who plays better on the day."

Action in Jakarta is due to begin tomorrow and conclude on Sunday (July 8).