Sindhu, Srikanth: 5 Indian Badminton Players to Watch at Asiad

Here’s a look at five Indian badminton players to watch at the Asian Games.

The Indian badminton squad will be spearheaded by PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth at the upcoming Asian Games, which begins on 18 August. Besides Sindhu and Srikanth, the squad boasts of healthy experience in Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal and HS Prannoy in both the women's and men's singles.

The squad is a fine mix of experience and youth with the likes of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy leading the Indian challenge in men's doubles. Sikki Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa will be leading India's charge in the women's doubles section.

National badminton coach Pullela Gopichand's daughter Gayatri broke into the senior national side for this mega event.

India’s Badminton Squad:

Men: Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma, Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, B Sumeeth Reddy, Manu Attri, Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sourabh Verma.

Women: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, N Sikki Reddy, Ashwini Ponnappa, Sai Uttejitha Rao, Ashmita Chaliha, Rutaparna Panda, Aarthi Sara Sunil, Aakarshi Kashyap and Gayathri Gopichand.

Here’s a look at five of these Indian badminton players to watch at the Asian Games.

1. PV Sindhu

PV Sindhu is yet to win a singles title this year, but she has made it to four finals in this season – India Open, Commonwealth Games, Thailand Open and World Championships. In fact, she lost a close CWG final to Saina Nehwal to settle for a silver medal.

The 23-year-old, who won a bronze medal (women’s team event) at the 2014 Asian Games, will be certainly looking to break the ‘final’ jinx and clinch her first singles title at the Asian Games this year.

2. Saina Nehwal

Saina Nehwal had a terrific Commonwealth Games 2018 campaign, winning the singles gold medal and helping the mixed team to win in the summit clash against Malaysia.

However, Nehwal is yet to win a BWF singles title this year. She reached the final in the Indonesia Masters, but lost to Tai Tzu Ying in straight games.

The 28-year-old lost to Carolina Marin in the quarter-final of the World Championships.

3. Kidambi Srikanth

Kidambi Srikanth, who has been battling injuries since December last year, has failed to win a BWF singles title this year. However, the 25-year-old clinched the silver medal in the singles draw at the Commonwealth Games. Srikanth was part of the gold medal winning mixed team at CWG as well.

Srikanth, who crashed out of the World Championship after losing to Malaysia's Daren Liew in the third round, will be motivated to make a comeback at the Asian Games.

4. HS Prannoy

HS Prannoy was part of the gold medal winning mixed team at the Commonwealth Games. The World Number 11, who has beaten the likes of Lin Dan and Son Wan Ho, is certainly capable of causing upsets at the Asian Games.

Prannoy has won a South Asian Games gold, South Asian Games silver, Asia Team Championships bronze and Asian Championships bronze medal in his career so far.

5. Sai Praneeth

Sai Praneeth, who won a BWF Superseries tournament last year, will be a great back-up in the team event at the Asian Games. The 26-year-old, who hasn’t won a BWF singles title this year, had a good run in the recently concluded World Championship. He reached the quarter-final before losing to Japan’s Kento Momota in the last eight.

Praneeth has won only one medal with the Indian team in his career so far – Asia Team Championships bronze medal.

(With inputs from IANS)