Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty return as BAI names India squad for Sudirman Cup; Gayatri-Treesa miss out | Badminton News
The star doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will return to the Indian lineup for the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals, as the Badminton Association of India (BAI) named a 14-member squad for the mixed team championship set to begin in Xiamen, China, from April 27.
However, India will be without the top women’s doubles duo Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, who have been ruled out due to injury. Their absence opens the door for the young pair of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra.
India, placed in Group D, will face a challenging first round with ties against former champions Indonesia, two-time runners-up Denmark, and a strong England side. India qualified for this tournament based on world rankings and will be eager to secure a spot in the knockouts from this tough group.
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“The selectors have picked the best possible combination across all five categories despite a few injury concerns. We’re no longer reliant on just one or two disciplines to win a tie, and that makes us a serious contender in any team event,” said BAI general secretary Sanjay Mishra. “We believe this squad has the depth and talent to go the dance.”
Alongside PV Sindhu in the women’s singles category, 19-year-old Anupama Upadhyaya, currently ranked 45th in the world, has earned her place in the squad. n men’s singles, Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy will lead the charge.
The men’s doubles will be spearheaded the returning World No. 10 duo Satwik-Chirag, with Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi as backup. Mixed doubles duties will be shared Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, who recently reached the quarterfinals at the Badminton Asia Championships.
India squad for Sudirman Cup
Men: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, Ruban Kumar R., Dhruv Kapila, Sathish Kumar KarunakaranWomen: PV Sindhu, Anupama Upadhyaya, Tanisha Crasto, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Aadya Variyat
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