Asian Games 2023 might be starting from September 23 in Houngzau but the badminton trials have already taken place in Hyderabad with champion players including Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen, and a few other prominent names making the cut.
Kidambi Srikanth, a former world number one, is all set to give his best in the individual event. Apart from Srikanth, Commonwealth Games 2022 champion Lakshya Sen and Mithun Manjunath sealed their spots in the Indian men’s badminton team for the upcoming Asian Games 2023. The four-day selection trials took place at the Jwala Gutta Academy of Excellence in Hyderabad.
Srikanth defeated Siddharth Gupta 21-13, 21-16 before beating Lakshya Sen in stage 2 with 21-15, 21-14 on Sunday. The former world number one also defeated national champion Mithun Manjunath 22-24, 21-13, 21-14 on Saturday. He topped the group to qualify for the event.
On the other hand, Lakshya Sen got the better of Manjunath 21-17, 21-8 before losing his game to Srikanth. He also defeated Gupta in straight games 21-17, 21-11 in his first match.
Following the trials, Ashmita Chaliha topped the group after winning all her matches. She would join PV Sindhu in the team as well apart from her individual event.
Ashmita Chaliha topped her group in the BAI trials in Hyderabad
In mixed doubles, Sai Pratheek K and Tanisha Crasto finished at the top, while Rohan Kapoor and N Sikki Reddy were in the second position in the final standings In women’s doubles, Tanisha and Ashwini Ponnappa finished at the top after winning both their matches.
The men’s doubles category was a contest to be witnessed as world No. 23 Dhruv Kapila/MR Arjun, Krishna Prasad G/Vishnuvardhan Goud P and the new pairing of Suraj Goala and Pruthvi Roy K finished with two wins each. Kapila and Arjun made the final squad based on a better game difference. This was perhaps the most interesting category in the Badminton Association of India trials.
Top-ranked players including HS Prannoy, PV Sindhu, and the duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were handed automatic spots in the team on the basis of their world ranking. In women’s doubles, the duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand would look to showcase their best performance after an automatic berth.
Asian Games will comprise 19 players from India including 10 men and 9 women. Tanisha Crasto will be appearing in both women’s doubles as well as mixed doubles. She will be pairing with Ashwini Ponappa in the women’s doubles and Sai Pratheek K in the mixed doubles event.
Here is the complete list of Indian players competing at Houngzau:
Men’s singles: HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth (individual/team); Lakshya Sen and Mithun Manjunath (team)
Men’s doubles: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty and Dhruv Kapila/MR Arjun (individual/team)
Women’s singles: PV Sindhu and Ashmita Chaliha (individual/team); Anupama Upadhyaya and Malvika Bansod (team)
Women’s doubles: Gayatri Gopichand/Treesa Jolly and Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto (individual/team)Mixed doubles: Rohan Kapoor /N Sikki Reddy and Sai Pratheek K/Tanisha Crasto