The Indian equity benchmarks are set to open sharply lower as indicated by Nifty Futures on Singapore Exchange as rising geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia kept investors on tenterhooks worldwide. Nifty Futures on Singapore Exchange also known as SGX Nifty Futures fell 0.58 per cent or 101 points to 17,179. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei fell 0.7 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined 0.55 per cent, Singapore Straits Times declined 0.05 per cent and South Korea's KOSPI slipped 0.53 per cent.