Sindhu, Saina, Srikanth to lead India at Sudirman Cup

P.V. Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal will lead the Indian challenge at the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton championships at Nanning (China) from May 19 to 26.

P.V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal will lead the Indian challenge.

P.V. Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal will lead the Indian challenge at the Sudirman Cup mixed team badminton championships at Nanning (China) from May 19 to 26.

India made the quarterfinals in the last edition at Gold Coast, Australia and this time around, the country is seeded eighth. It has been clubbed with China and Malaysia in Group-D and will need to finish in the top-two in the league stage to reach the knock out round.

It may be mentioned here that India defeated Malaysia in the mixed team format in the Commonwealth Games gold medal clash in Gold Coast last year.

The absence of former World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei may be good news for the Indian contingent this time around.

The Indian team also sees the return of doubles player Satwiksairaj Ranikreddy, who is coming out of an injury-break, alongwith Chirag Shetty while experienced Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy will lead the women’s doubles challenge.

The team

Men: Kidambi Srikanth, Sameer Verma, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Manu Atri, B Sumeeth Reddy and Pranaav Jerry Chopra

Women: P.V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Ashwini Ponnappa, N Sikki Reddy, Poorvisha S Ram and J. Meghana.