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PV Sindhu to skip Thailand Open, Saina Nehwal to lead Indian team
While Saina Nehwal will play in the Thailand Open, Indonesia Open and Australian Open, PV Sindhu will give the Bangkok tournament a miss.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Thursday announced the teams for the next three major international tournaments after a selection committee meeting in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The panel was unanimous in its selection for the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold (May 30-June 4), Indonesia Open Superseries Premier (June 12 –June 18) and Australian Open Superseries (June 20–June 25).
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After a scintillating win at the Singapore Open last month, World No 22 Sai Praneeth will look to continue his run at the Thailand Open. Giving him company will be former World No 6 Parupalli Kashyap.
World No 9 Saina Nehwal, winner of the 2012 edition, will spearhead the challenge in the women’s section.
In Indonesia and Australia, India’s hopes will rest on World No 4 PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. Sindhu, after winning the India Open Superseries last month in New Delhi, will look to add one more title to her kitty.
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In the men’s singles, World No 13 Ajay Jayaram will lead a strong Indian contingent, which has the likes of 2017 Singapore Open finalist Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma and Kashyap.
Ashwini Ponappa and Sikki Reddy will be the only Indian pair in women’s doubles. The pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra-Sikki Reddy and Sumeeth Reddy-Ashwini will feature in mixed doubles.
“We have announced the team in advance so that the players can plan their travel properly and have ample time to prepare both physically and mentally,” BAI general secretary Anup Narang said.
Thailand Open:
Men’s singles: Rahul Yadav, Harsheel Dani, Subhankar Dey, P Kashyap, B. Sai Praneeth, Siril Verma, Sourav Verma
Women’s singles: Saina Nehwal, Rituparna Das, Ruthvika Shivani, Akarshi Kashyap, Ira Sharma
Women’s doubles: J Meghna/Poorvisha Ram
Men’s doubles: Shlok Ramachandra/MR Arjun
Indonesia Open:
Men’s singles: Ajay Jayaram, Kidambi Srikanth, H.S. Prannoy, P Kashyap, B. Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma
Women’s singles: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal
Women’s doubles: Ashwini Ponappa/Sikki Reddy
Mixed doubles: Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy, Sumeeth Reddy/Ashwini Ponappa
Men’s doubles: Manu Attri/Sumeeth Reddy, Chirag Shetty/Satwik Sairaj
Australian Open:
Men’s singles: Kidambi Srikanth, Sameer Verma, Parupalli Kashyap, Ajay Jayaram, H.S. Prannoy, Sai Praneeth
Women’s singles: Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu
Men’s doubles: Manu Attri/Sumeeth Reddy, Chirag Shetty/Satwik Sairaj
Women’s doubles: Ashwini Ponappa/Sikki Reddy
Mixed doubles: Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy, Sumeeth Reddy/Ashwini Ponappa
