Satwik and Chirag Lead India's 14-Member Team for BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2025
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Synopsis
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has unveiled a 14-member squad for the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2025, featuring several stars returning after injuries, including Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty. The tournament will take place in Xiamen, China, from April 27 to May 4, with India aiming for a knockout berth.
Key Takeaways
- India's 14-member squad includes top players like Satwik, Chirag, and PV Sindhu.
- The Sudirman Cup Finals will be held in Xiamen, China, from April 27 to May 4.
- India aims to advance from a challenging Group D, featuring Indonesia and Denmark.
- Team morale is boosted after a solid performance at the Badminton Asia Championships.
- Injuries affected the women's doubles team, but overall squad strength remains high.
New Delhi, April 15 (NationPress) The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has revealed a robust squad of 14 members for the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2025. Among the notable returns is the world No. 10 men's doubles team Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who are back in action post-injury. The lineup also features former world champion PV Sindhu, alongside World Championships medalists Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy.
This prestigious biennial event, known as the World Mixed Team Championships, is set to take place in Xiamen, China from April 27 to May 4.
India secured its place in this elite mixed team championship based on its world ranking, aiming to advance from a challenging Group D, which includes former champions Indonesia, two-time runners-up Denmark, and England.
“The selectors have assembled the strongest possible team across all five categories, despite some injury setbacks. Our strength now lies in not being reliant on just one or two disciplines to succeed in matches, making us a formidable contender in any team event. We believe the team can make an impact in the group stages and potentially achieve historic success by winning a medal,” stated BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra.
Following a commendable performance at the recent Badminton Asia Championships, team morale is elevated. PV Sindhu benefited from crucial match experience, while the mixed doubles team of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto made a mark by reaching the quarterfinals.
Unfortunately, injuries have sidelined the women's doubles pairing of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, who also missed the previous week's championships.
Sen and Prannoy, both recognized for their strong performances in team competitions, will add significant experience to the squad. Meanwhile, Satwik and Chirag, who were unavailable for the Badminton Asia Championships, will be backed by the reserve pair Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi.
Former national champion Anupama Upadhyaya, currently ranked 45th globally, will serve as the second women's singles player in the team. Additionally, the promising duo of Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra are included.
Each tie in the Sudirman Cup comprises five matches: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
Sixteen teams will compete in the 19th edition of the Sudirman Cup, with four seeded teams placed in distinct groups during the draw. The defending champions and hosts, China, are the top seeds in Group A.
India's best results in the Sudirman Cup occurred in 2011 and 2017, when they reached the quarter-finals. In the previous edition, India was eliminated in the group stage after losses to Malaysia and Chinese Taipei.
India Squad for Sudirman Cup-
Men: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, Ruban Kumar R, Dhruv Kapila, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran
Women: PV Sindhu, Anupama Upadhyaya, Tanisha Crasto, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Aadya Variyath
