Is Sindhu and Lakshya Leading a Powerful Indian Team for the Badminton Asia Team Championships?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PV Sindhu leads the women's team.
- Lakshya Sen is the top men's singles player.
- India is the defending champion in women's badminton.
- The championships will be held in Qingdao, China.
- The teams consist of experienced and emerging players.
New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) Aiming to secure a podium finish in both the men's and women's events, India is assembling a formidable team that includes a former world champion and several world championship medallists for the upcoming Badminton Asia Team Championships, taking place in Qingdao, China, from February 3-8, 2026.
India is the reigning champion in the women’s division, while the men’s team has previously won two bronze medals.
The women’s squad, selected based on their rankings, performance, and experience, will once again be spearheaded by PV Sindhu, a former world champion and two-time Olympic medallist. The men’s team primarily consists of the players who secured the 2022 Thomas Cup title, featuring Lakshya Sen and the dynamic duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
“Indian teams have consistently been strong medal contenders at both the Asian and World levels over recent years. This squad combines form with experience, and I believe they can compete for the title in both categories. I wish them all the best for the championships,” remarked Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary of the Badminton Association of India.
World No. 13 Sen is the highest-ranked men’s singles player in the team, which also includes former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, seasoned player HS Prannoy, rising talent and US Open champion Ayush Shetty, and Tharun Mannepalli. The doubles team will be led by world championship bronze medallists Satwik and Chirag, along with Sai Pratheek K., Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, and Hariharan Amsakarunan.
In the women’s lineup, Sindhu will be supported by Tanvi Sharma, who earned a silver medal at the world junior championships, alongside Unnati Hooda, Rakshita Sree Santhosh Ramraj, and Malvika Bansod in singles, while Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly will head the doubles unit. The team is rounded out by Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, and Tanisha Crasto.
BATC 2026 Indian Teams:
Men: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, Prannoy HS, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, Sai Pratheek K, Hariharan Amsakarunan
Women: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, Malvika Bansod, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Tanisha Crasto.