Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu’s withdrawal from the Asia Team Championships will definitely hamper India’s title defence in Qingdao, China.
Sindhu drew from the tournament due to a niggle. India did not name a replacement for Sindhu as the deadline for squad changes has passed, and the team will now compete without one.
The sixth edition of the Badminton Asia Team Championships starts on Tuesday with separate men’s and women’s events featuring national teams across Asia.
Teenagers Tanvi Sharma, part of India’s title-winning squad in 2024, and Unnati Hooda have been named in the women’s team, along with Malvika Bansod. Commonwealth Games medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will lead the doubles challenge.
India’s women have been placed in Group Y alongside fourth seeds Thailand and Myanmar.
On the men’s side, Paris 2024 semifinalist Lakshya Sen will spearhead India’s campaign, with HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth and doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also in the squad.
India’s men have been drawn in Group C with fourth seeds Japan and Singapore.
Each group-stage tie will comprise five rubbers, three singles and two doubles, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.
The tournament also serves as Asia’s qualifying event for the Thomas and Uber Cup finals, scheduled to be held in Horsens, Denmark in April-May.
India’s women are the defending champions, while China are the reigning men’s winners. India’s men have claimed bronze medals twice, in 2016 and 2020.
The Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026 will be available on live streaming on the Badminton Asia Team Championships YouTube Channel. There will be no live telecast of the Badminton Asia Team Championships on any TV channel in India.
India squad: Men: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Ayush Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Tharun Mannepalli, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, Sai Pratheek K, Hariharan Amsakarunan
Women: Tanvi Sharma, Malvika Bansod, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Unnati Hooda, Tanisha Crasto, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Rakshitha Ramraj, Surya Charishma Tamiri
India’s schedule (IST): February 4: India women vs Myanmar women (8:30 AM onwards); India men vs Singapore men (2:30 PM onwards). February 5: India women vs Thailand women (8:30 AM onwards); India men vs Japan men (2:30 PM onwards).
