After six days of gruelling trails that was filled with surprise packages, nerve-wracking excitement and great action, the Badminton Association on India have now announced the Indian contingent for the Thomas and Uber Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
First up for the Commonwealth Games, all eyes will be on Lakshya Sen, Srikanth Kidambi, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty and B Sumeeth Reddy whereas the women’s team will be led by PV Sindhu along with others like Aakarshi Kashyap, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri P and Ashwini Ponappa.
Sumeet Reddy and Ashwini Ponappa have made it to the final list of the Commonwealth Games courtesy of their brilliant performance in the Mixed Doubles category.
The brightest start at the trials was 14-year-old Unnati Hooda as she earned a place in the Asian Games and also in the Uber Cup after she finished third behind Kashyap and Ashmita Chaliha as they grabbed the top two spots in the women’s singles category. Hooda is the youngest Indian badminton player to be part of the Asian Games squad.
The Asian Games and Uber Cup will see a 10-member Women’s team which will include PV Sindhu, Kashyap, Chaliha, Hooda alongside Top-3 doubles pairs from the trials—Treesa Jolly-Gayatri P, N Sikki Reddy-Ashwini Ponappa and Tanisha Crasto-Shruti Mishra.
Players like PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, Srikanth Kidambi and doubles’ pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were awarded direct entry for being in the top 15 in the world rankings. HS Prannoy is another name who will be getting direct entry to tournaments.
In men’s singles category Priyanshu Rajawat finished at the top at the trials. Rajawat has also made it to the 10-men contingent for the Asian Games and Thomas Cup alongside top stars like Sen, Srikanthand others.
The BAI General secretary Sanjay Mishra was delighted with the squad selection as he felt that all the strong performers from the trails have shown plenty of promise and will for sure shine at the upcoming flagship events.
“We are delighted with the energy of the selection trials. All the players gave everything on the court to earn themselves a chance to represent the country. It’s great to see high-quality competition for the positions. I congratulate all the players and wish them good luck for their preparations for mega events,” said Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary of BAI, after the selection meeting.
“This new format for the trials was developed to provide a platform where the senior as well as young players can have opportunities and now you can now see the squads are a great mix of youth and experience and am sure each of them will make the most of this opportunity and make India proud,” Mishra concluded.
