Returning from injuries and battling indifferent form, Indian shuttlers will have to come up with outstanding performances to end the country’s wait for a title at the All England Championships beginning here on Tuesday.

It has been 22 years since India won the coveted title when Pullela Gopichand (2001) followed the legendary Prakash Padukone (1980).

While Lakshya Sen came close to securing the crown when he reached the final in the last edition and Saina Nehwal was runners-up in the 2015 edition, other Indians, including two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, couldn’t go beyond the last-four stage in the prestigious event.

This time around, things will only be tougher as both Sen and Sindhu, since returning from a long injury lay-off, had subdued starts to the new season, having made early exits in Malaysia and India Open.

World No. 12 Sen is coming into the event after a shock loss to world No. 41 Christo Popov of France in the first round of German Open, while Sindhu, in a desperate measure, has parted ways with Korea’s Park Taesang a few weeks ahead of the event. Sen will face Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei, seeded fifth, while Sindhu will be up against tricky Chinese Zhang Yi Man, who has a 1-1 record against her.

If there is one Indian who could be the dark horse, it is world No.9 HS Prannoy.

Prannoy has been consistent and has registered some big wins against top players, the latest being Malaysia’s world No.4 Lee Zii Jia at the Badminton Asia Mixed team championship (BATC) in February.

Prannoy will open his campaign against Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu Wei.

While none of the singles players are seeded this time, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will hope to live up to their sixth seeding.