Injury Forces Treesa-Gayatri to Withdraw from Uber Cup; Shruti-Priya Step In
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) In a significant setback for India ahead of the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals, the women's doubles duo of Treesa Joly and Gayatri Gopichand have officially withdrawn from the highly anticipated tournament due to Treesa's injury.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has swiftly appointed Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam as their replacements in the squad.
This esteemed tournament is set to take place in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3. This year marks the 34th installment of the Thomas Cup, while the Uber Cup will celebrate its 31st edition.
According to a statement from BAI, "Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will not be competing in the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2026 due to the former's injury. Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam have been included in the Indian women's team as replacements."
Earlier this month, the pair also withdrew from the Badminton Asia Championships. Additionally, they had to exit the Swiss Open 2026 tournament after Treesa sustained an injury during their opening round women’s doubles match last month. During that match, they were trailing 7-13 against Chinese Taipei's Hu Ling Fang and Jheng Yu Chieh when they had to withdraw.
Meanwhile, the Uber Cup team showcases a mix of experience and youth, with double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu leading a promising new generation, including the talented Unnati Hooda, as India aims to surpass its previous semifinal achievements.
The Indian women's team faces a challenging draw, competing against European team championship runners-up Denmark, bronze medallists Ukraine, and defending champions China.
In the last edition of the Thomas & Uber Cup held in Chengdu in 2024, the Indian women, who previously secured bronze medals in 2014 and 2016, were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Japan.
Current Indian women’s team:
PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag, Isharani Baruah, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto, Shruti Mishra, and Priya Konjengbam