HS Prannoy, PV Sindhu to lead Indian team in Sudirman Cup | Badminton News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Indian badminton team has been announced for the 2023 Sudirman Cup with the return of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy bolstering the men’s doubles squad for the tournament to be played in Suzhou, China from May 14-21.
World No. 9 HS Prannoy and former world champion and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will spearhead the Indian team which have been grouped in Group C along with Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Australia.
The senior national selection committee, which met in New Delhi on Tuesday, followed the guidelines announced on January 3, 2023 to select a balanced squad with an aim to clinch a first-ever medal in the Mixed Team Championships.

Indian men had created history last year by winning the prestigious Thomas Cup and hopes of a potential podium finished were raised further following the bronze winning performance in the Asian Mixed Team championships earlier this year.
“Sudirman Cup is a prestigious tournament and the selectors have picked the best squad after studying the domestic and international results. We are confident that this team will challenge for a medal this year,” said Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra.

India’s first task will be to make it to the knock-out stage from a potentially tricky group.
The experienced Ashwini Ponnappa and new partner Tanisha Castro will provide back up to the All England semi-finalists Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly.
Kidambi Srikanth and reigning senior national women’s singles champion Anupama Upadhyaya will be the other singles players in the squad.
Indian team:
Men’s singles: HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth (Reserve: Lakshya Sen)
Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Anupama Upadhyaya (Reserve: Aakarshi Kashyap)
Men’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty, MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila
Women’s doubles: Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly, Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto
Mixed doubles: Tanisha Crasto/Sai Pratheek