India’s pursuit at the Badminton Asia Championships has faced a setback with the men’s doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty withdrawing from the competition. This decision comes as a result of lingering shoulder issues affecting Satwik. The duo, who are the defending champions from the 2023 edition, have been struggling with fitness challenges in recent weeks.

Prior to this withdrawal, they had also pulled out of the Swiss Open ahead of their quarterfinal match due to the same injury. Coach Tan Kim Her confirmed to PTI that Satwik is still experiencing discomfort, which has led to the decision for them to not participate this week. Their absence creates a considerable gap in the Indian lineup, placing greater emphasis on the singles players competing.

Increased Pressure on Lakshya Sen

With the withdrawal of the men’s doubles team, attention now turns to Lakshya Sen as he carries the hopes of India’s singles contingent. This tournament represents a significant opportunity for him, as India has not secured a men’s singles gold at the continental championships since 1965, when Dinesh Khanna clinched victory.

Following a strong performance that saw him finish as runner-up at the All England Championships, the twenty-four-year-old from Almora aims to build on that success. He is scheduled to begin his campaign with a match against Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong, sporting both a positive performance record and the burden of expectations.

Simultaneously, PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, is making her return after disruptions in her European journey. Sindhu was stranded in Dubai while attempting to travel for the All England Championships, which caused her to withdraw. Now, she is set to face Wong Ling Ching from Malaysia in her opening match.

Return of HS Prannoy and Other Contestants

HS Prannoy will mark his return to competition following recovery from a shoulder injury, contributing to the men’s singles bracket. He is lined up to face a qualifier in his opening match. Kidambi Srikanth is also in action, having drawn Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew, while US Open champion Ayush Shetty will confront Li Shi Feng from China.

In the women’s singles draw, Sindhu is not alone, as several other players are also determined to leave their mark. Unnati Hooda is set to battle Thailand’s Supanida Katethong, while Tanvi Sharma faces K. Letshanaa from Malaysia. Additionally, Malvika Bansod will contend with Busanan Ongbamrungphan from Thailand.

Despite the absence of top Indian names in the doubles events, the country will still be represented across various categories. In men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun are set to take on the tournament’s top seeds, Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae. Similarly, the pairing of P. Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K. will face Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi.

Challenges Ahead for Mixed and Women’s Doubles

In women’s doubles, Ashwini Bhat K. and Shikha Gautam will oppose Thailand’s Hathaithip Mijad and N. Tungkasatan, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela are scheduled to meet China’s Luo Yi and Wang Ting Ge. Additionally, Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra will compete against a qualifier.

For mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani will face Malaysia’s Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, while Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh encounter Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien. Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto are also set to compete against Thailand’s P. Horbanluekit and Benyapa Aimsaard.

In summary, with the absence of Satwik and Chirag, India’s performance now largely relies on its singles athletes, particularly Lakshya Sen, who has a unique opportunity to add to the country’s badminton history.

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