Injury Forces Treesa-Gayatri to Withdraw from Uber Cup; BAI Selects Shruti-Priya
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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ahead of the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals, the women's doubles duo of Treesa Joly and Gayatri Gopichand has officially withdrawn from this esteemed tournament due to an injury suffered by Treesa.
The Badminton Federation of India (BAI) has promptly announced that Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam will step in as replacements for the Indian squad.
This highly anticipated tournament is set to take place in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3. This edition of the Thomas Cup will be the 34th, while the Uber Cup will celebrate its 31st.
According to a statement from BAI, "Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will not compete in the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2026 due to the injury sustained by Treesa. Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam will take their place in the Indian women's team."
Earlier this month, the pair had also withdrawn from the Badminton Asia Championships. They had previously exited the Swiss Open 2026 badminton tournament following Treesa's injury during their opening round match against Hu Ling Fang and Jheng Yu Chieh from Chinese Taipei, where they were trailing 7-13.
On a brighter note, the Uber Cup team comprises a mix of experienced players and newcomers, with two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu guiding a promising young talent, Unnati Hooda, as India aims to surpass its previous semifinal performances.
The Indian women's team faces a challenging draw, going up against formidable opponents: European Championship runners-up Denmark, bronze medalists Ukraine, and the defending champions, China.
In the last Thomas & Uber Cup edition held in Chengdu in 2024, the Indian women, who secured bronze medals in both 2014 and 2016, were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Japan.
Current members of the Indian women's team include:
PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag, Isharani Baruah, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto, Shruti Mishra, and Priya Konjengbam.