Blow For India As PV Sindhu Pulls Out Of Asia Team Championship

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the upcoming Badminton Asia Team Championships, impacting India’s medal prospects at the tournament all set to start next week.

Sindhu, a former world champion, had returned to competition after a foot injury that sidelined her since October last year.

“Sindhu has withdrawn from the Asia Team Championships due to a slight niggle,” a source informed PTI.

Sindhu had also pulled out from the 2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships after suffering a hamstring injury during a training camp in Guwahati. Since her recent return, she reached the semifinals of the Malaysia Open, was eliminated in the first round of the India Open and made it to the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters.

In Sindhu’s

absence, India’s chances of winning a medal at the continental event, which begins on February 3 in Qingdao, appear slim. The Indian women’s team had clinched gold at the 2024 edition in Malaysia, marking the nation’s first medal in the women’s team competition.

India has been placed in Group Y with Thailand and Myanmar.

Without Sindhu, the singles responsibilities will fall to world junior championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Rakshita Sree Santhosh Ramraj and Malvika Bansod.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly will lead the doubles challenge, with Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra and Tanisha Crasto completing the team.

(With PTI Inputs)