PV Sindhu to miss Uber Cup; India name strong squad to defend Thomas Cup crown

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu, along with premier women's doubles teams, will not participate in the upcoming Uber Cup. On the other hand, the Indian men's squad is geared up to defend their title at the Thomas Cup, which is set to commence in Chengdu on April 27. Sindhu's decision to withdraw from the competition is part of her strategic preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics, aiming to be in top form for the event.

Since returning to competitive badminton at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in February, Sindhu has participated in six tournaments. Her decision to skip the Uber Cup is influenced by her desire to focus on recovery and preparation for the Paris Games. "Sindhu opted out as she is coming back from an injury and she wants to give herself enough time to prepare for Paris Games where she will hope to win another medal for the country," BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra conveyed to PTI.

The top women’s doubles pairs, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and the duo of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto, also withdrew their participation, citing the team's compromised strength in Sindhu's absence. This move is aimed at concentrating their efforts on securing a spot at the Olympics.

In response to these withdrawals, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has decided to extend the opportunity to those who excelled at the Senior National Championships, thereby offering them a chance to represent India.

For the Uber Cup, the focus is on nurturing young talents in the absence of top players. The squad features rising star 17-year-old Anmol Kharab, alongside Ashmita Chaliha and Tanvi Sharma, who are set to showcase their skills on an international stage, representing India's next generation of badminton prowess.

The Indian men's team, meanwhile, is preparing to uphold their title at the Thomas Cup with a formidable line-up, celebrating their historic win in 2022 against Indonesia, securing their first-ever championship. The team, a blend of experience and emerging talent, includes a strategic addition of singles and doubles players to navigate through the demanding schedule of the season.

A ten-member squad for the Thomas Cup includes five singles players, with Kiran George joining seasoned players HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and Priyanshu Rajawat. In doubles, the world No. 1 pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila, will represent India, with Sai Pratheek serving as a backup.

This meticulous selection was the result of an online meeting of the selection committee, which includes Chief National coach Pulella Gopichand and other former Indian stars, aiming to craft a team capable of continuing India’s legacy in the Thomas Cup.

Thomas Cup squad: (Singles) HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Priyanshu Rajawat and Kiran George; (Doubles) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, MR Arjun, Dhruv Kapila and Sai Pratheek

Uber Cup squad: (Singles) Anmol Kharb, Tanvi Sharma, Ashmita Chaliha and Isharani Baruah; (Doubles) Shruti Mishra, Priya Konjengbam, Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker.

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(With PTI inputs)