PV Sindhu in action (Courtesy: BAI photo)
In a huge boost to the Indian team, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has returned to the fold for the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024. Sindhu and World No.8 HS Prannoy will spearhead the national team in Shah Alam, Malaysia from February 13 to 19.
Sindhu had withdrawn from the French Open 2023 match against Thailand”s Supanida Katethong after winning the first game due to an injury to her left knee. She had played through injury in the first game. The upcoming continental championship will mark a crucial comeback for Sindhu for the first time since October.
“Tough decision to withdraw,” Sindhu posted on social media after the match. “In the first set, I felt something wrong in my left knee but chose to continue to play. However, the pain started to linger. I retired from the game because I felt that retiring was a wise decision to take a closer look at my knee and have my physio examine it.”
Anmol Kharb, the 16-year-old senior women”s singles national champion, Badminton Asia Junior Championship medallist Tanvi Sharma and Chaliha will be the other Indian badminton women”s players in the category.
Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, who helped the Indian team clinch a historic bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023 in Dubai, will feature in the women”s doubles.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lakshya Sen and former World No.1 Kidambi Srikanth will be a part of the men”s squad, with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, shouldering the responsibility in men”s doubles category.
The Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 will be crucial as it provides the ranking points in the race to Paris 2024. The Indian men”s team had previously won bronze medals in 2016 and 2018 editions of the event.
Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024: India Squad
Men’s team: HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Chirag Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Dhruv Kapila, M R Arjun, Suraj Goala, Pruthvi Roy
Women’s team: PV Sindhu, Anmol Kharb, Tanvi Sharma, Ashmita Chaliha, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Ashwini Ponnappa, Tanisha Crasto, Priya Devi Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra
