Saina, Prannoy to spearhead India's challenge

New Delhi: Top shuttlers H.S Prannoy and Saina Nehwal will lead India’s charge at the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup.

Kidambi Srikanth and P.V.Sindhu were not included in the squad, the reason for which wasn’t provided by the Badminton Association of India.

The tournaments will be held simultaneously from May 20 to 27 in Bangkok, Thailand.

India take on France first, followed by Australia and China in the Thomas Cup while the women’s team, bronze medal winners in the last edition, meet Canada first and Australia and Japan thereafter.

Asian championship bronze medallist Prannoy, world no.18 B. Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma and junior world no. 4 Lakshay Sen will compete in the men’s championship.

CWG gold medallist Saina, Vaishnavi Jakka Reddy, Sai Krishna Priya, Anura Prabhu and Vaishnavi Bhale will feature in the women’s singles competition.

The experienced Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri along with Shlok Ramachandran, M.R. Arjuna and the pairing of Sanyam Shukla and Arun George will lead India’s charge in the men’s doubles category at the Thomas Cup.

J. Meghana, Poorvisha Ram, Prajakta Sawant and Sanyogita Ghorpade will lead the challenge in the women’s doubles competition of Uber Cup.

“This is the first time Badminton Association of India has chosen to go into the tournament with a mix of experienced players and upcoming talent and this has been done keeping in mind the need to promote the next generation of players and ensure due opportunities come their way,” BAI secretary general Ajay Singhania said.