After a long wait since Prakash Padukone's bronze in 1983 ended, Indian shuttlers have been on the podium at the BWF World Championships in every edition since 2011. So much so that in the edition that starts in Copenhagen, Denmark on Monday, there will be a former Indian medallist in three categories.

PV Sindhu, with the small matter of her five medals in past World Championships, is of course the benchmark for India at major events. Srikanth Kidambi and Lakshya Sen stood together on the podium in Huelva in 2021. And Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, as they do, created history in Tokyo last year by becoming the first Indian men's doubles pairing to win a medal at the Worlds with their bronze.

Will the streak of medals continue in 2023? On paper, the Indian contingent has been handed some tough draws but there is reason to be hopeful.

Here's a look at the seeded entries from India:

1. Having reached their career-high ranking of No 2 recently, Satwik and Chirag begin Worlds as second seeds and as one of the pairs to beat.

2. In men's singles, HS Prannoy and Lakshya are seeded 9 and 11 respectively. Both of them come into this event on the back of good form.

3. Sindhu just about managed to get seeded at 16th. Her slip in the rankings has been significant this year but perhaps now is the time for some upturn.

4. In women's doubles too India have a seeded entry with Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly at No 16. But to their luck, they are likely to run into the world No 1 pair of Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan in the third round itself.

Women's singles

When it comes to Worlds, Sindhu has made a name for herself like no other Indian shuttler. She somehow always finds ways to raise her game at the biggest of stages. It's 10 years since a teenaged Sindhu won her first bronze back in 2013 in what was a breakthrough tournament for her. She looks pretty much the same still, but plenty has changed for her on court.

Two bronze medals were followed by two silver medals then came the famous gold at Basel 2019. But to say her 2023 has been challenging so far and that her potential path to the podium in Copenhagen is even more so, would be an understatement.

(There is more about Sindhu's year in this podcast.)

As for her draw at this edition, Sindhu (who has a first-round bye) is likely to start off her campaign against Nozomi Okuhara. For both the former world champions, this rivalry was once so special. Okuhara won the epic Glasgow 2017 final, Sindhu decimated her in the 2019 rematch. It's fair to say, however, both of them are someway off that kind of form, Okuhara perhaps more so than Sindhu.

Should Sindhu prevail in that contest, another former world champion (and a good friend) is likely up next. Ratchanok Intanon too is coming into this tournament to mark 10 years of her famous win, the gold in 2013. And the reward for winner of that contest? A likely quarterfinal against the World No 1 and red-hot favourite An Se Young. Sindhu is yet to win against the Korean, in case that reminder is needed.

If Sindhu defeats Okuhara, Intanon and An to reach the podium, it'll probably rank as one of her best ever runs at the Worlds. But for starters, hopefully Hafiz Hashim has his new ward fit and firing for some good performances.

Sindhu is the only entry in WS from India with Saina Nehwal pulling out.

Men's singles

Just like India's WS No 1, the MS No 1 too will have to go through a massive challenge against an overwhelming favourite if they are to reach the podium. HS Prannoy is unarguably one of the handful of shuttlers in the world at the moment who can trouble Viktor Axelsen, but that is the huge quarterfinal test he will have to overcome should he reach that far. (The quarterfinal hurdle has hurt him in the past, it's worth remembering).

Even before that, there are couple of tricky opponents he must overcome. Prannoy will start off against Kalle Koljonen of Finland, the world No 57. Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo won't be easy in the second round, and in the third round the Indian veteran is likely to run into the mercurial Loh Kean Yew, a former champion.

Lakshya, seeded 11th, will have to bulldoze his way through some familiar names from the class of 2018 if he is to return to the podium. He starts off with a winnable tie against Mauritius' Georges Julien Paul. Jeon Hyeok-jin is a likely second round opponent, again winnable. But from there on he is likely to face Kunlavut Vitidsarn (last year's finalist) in the third round, and All England Champion Li Shi Feng in the quarterfinal. One of the three men from that famous junior batch are likely to be standing on the podium on 27 August, let's see who makes it that far this time.

Second seed Anthony Ginting's withdrawal from the bottom quarter opens things up slightly for Srikanth Kidambi, but he starts off with a tough contest against Kenta Nishimoto (14th seed) and is likely to run into Kanta Tsuneyama in the third round. In the section above his, one of Lee Zii Jia / Jonatan Christie (what a first-round match that is) or Ng Tze Yong / Zhao Jun Peng or Anders Antonsen could await Srikanth in the quarterfinal. With Srikanth, you never take the risk of predictions, but that is not exactly the toughest of paths to the podium for the 2021 silver medallist.

In women's doubles, the young Indian duo of Treesa and Gayatri have their task cut out nice and early as mentioned earlier. In mixed doubles, the one category where India are struggling more than others at the moment, Rohan Kapoor and Sikki Reddy, Venkat Prasad and Juhi Dewangan are the entries in the draw.

And now for the most awaited part...

Men's doubles

It is arguably the most entertaining category in world badminton at the moment, purely in terms of how unpredictable things can be. Satwik-Chirag will, however, start as one of the favourites to go all the way, given their recent run of form at Indonesia Open and Korea Open.

There are no pairs in the draw that the Indians must (or will) fear, but for starters they have avoided reigning champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin, top seeds Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto and the legendary Daddies in their half of the draw. The second seeds start with a bye, then face a tricky potential third round tie vs Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin of Indonesia. The quarterfinal is likely vs Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi (or Kim/Anders too for that matter). But again, at their best, these are match-ups where SatChi will fancy their chances.

There are no certainties in this sport, especially in this category, but India's best chance of a semifinal finish and beyond lies on the shoulders of these two young men.