Satwik-Chirag withdraw from Badminton Asia Championships, onus on Lakshya to deliver

India's Badminton Asia Championships campaign has suffered a major blow with Satwik-Chirag pulling out due to injury. With the star doubles duo injured, the spotlight shifts to Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu to carry the nation's hopes and end a decades-long wait for a singles title.

In Short

• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty withdraw due to shoulder injury
• Lakshya Sen leads India’s charge in men’s singles after strong recent form
• PV Sindhu returns after disrupted European leg

India’s campaign at the Badminton Asia Championships has taken an early hit, with the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty pulling out of the tournament due to Satwik’s lingering shoulder injury.

The defending champions, who had lifted the title in 2023, have been struggling with fitness issues over the past few weeks. The duo had already withdrawn from the Swiss Open before their quarterfinal, and the injury has once again forced them out of a major event.

“Satwik still has some pain, so they won’t be playing this week,” coach Tan Kim Her told PTI.

Their absence leaves a significant void in India’s campaign, shifting the spotlight firmly onto the singles contingent, led by Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu.

ALL EYES ON LAKSHYA SEN

For Lakshya, the tournament presents more than just another shot at silverware. It is an opportunity to end a wait that has stretched over six decades. India’s last men’s singles gold at the continental meet came in 1965, when Dinesh Khanna stood atop the podium.

Lakshya, fresh off a runner-up finish at the All England Championships, will be keen to build on that momentum. The 24-year-old from Almora begins his campaign against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu, carrying both form and expectation into the tournament.

Sindhu, meanwhile, returns after a disrupted European leg. The two-time Olympic medallist was stranded in Dubai en route to the All England Championships due to the conflict in West Asia, forcing her withdrawal. She later skipped the Swiss Open to recover and will now open her campaign against Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching.

HS PRANNOY RETURNS

India’s men’s singles lineup will also see HS Prannoy make his return after recovering from a shoulder injury. He is set to face a qualifier, while Kidambi Srikanth takes on Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew. US Open champion Ayush Shetty faces a tough opening test against China’s Li Shi Feng.

In women’s singles, apart from Sindhu, Unnati Hooda will take on Thailand’s Supanida Katethong, Tanvi Sharma faces Malaysia’s K. Letshanaa, and Malvika Bansod goes up against Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan.

The doubles field, though missing its biggest Indian names, will still see representation across categories. In men’s doubles, Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun face top seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, while P. Krishnamurthy Roy and Sai Pratheek K. take on Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi.

In women’s doubles, Ashwini Bhat K. and Shikha Gautam face Thailand’s Hathaithip Mijad and N. Tungkasatan, while the pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela meet China’s Luo Yi and Wang Ting Ge. Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra await a qualifier.

In mixed doubles, Rohan Kapoor and Gadde Ruthvika Shivani face Malaysia’s Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, while Ashith Surya and Amrutha Pramuthesh meet Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien. Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto will take on Thailand’s P. Horbanluekit and Benyapa Aimsaard.

But make no mistake, with Satwik and Chirag out, India’s campaign now hinges on its singles stars. And for Lakshya Sen in particular, this is a moment loaded with both opportunity and history.

- Ends