Thomas and Uber Cup: India placed in Group A

While the women's team has been placed alongside Japan, Canada and Australia in the Uber Cup, the men's team has been drawn alongside powerhouse China, France and Australia in the Group A of Thomas Cup.

P.V. Sindhu is expected to lead India in the Uber Cup.

India has been placed in Group A in both the Thomas Cup as well as the Uber Cup 2018. The draw for the world badminton team championship, to be held in Bangkok from May 20-27, was held on Thursday.

While the women's team has been placed alongside Japan, Canada and Australia in the Uber Cup, the men's team has been drawn alongside powerhouse China, France and Australia in the Group A of Thomas Cup. India is seeded 5/8th in both the events.

Spain has pulled out of Uber Cup which means Carolina Marin will not be in action in the premier 16-team championship.

Similarly, England withdrew its name from the Thomas Cup. Hong Kong and France will take their place in the Thomas and Uber Cup respectively.

Indian women's team reached the semifinal stage in the 2016 edition of Uber Cup, where it lost to eventual champion China. The men's team, however, lost all its Group matches to crash out of the tournament.

The year 2017 has seen the likes of Kidambi Srikanth, H.S. Prannoy and Sai Praneeth emerging as world beaters, giving rise to hopes of a better performance in the 2018 edition of the biennial championships.