New Delhi: Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu has been rested from the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold event while senior pro Saina Nehwal will be vying for top honours in all three upcoming tournaments.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

India will be sending full teams for the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold (May 30-June 4), Indonesia Open Super Series (June 12-18) and Australian Open Super Series (June 20-25).


The Thailand Open will feature a host of youngsters keeping in mind the busy international calendar up ahead for the Indian shuttlers.


The Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Thursday announced the teams for the next three tournaments after a selection committee meeting was held in Kolkata during last two days.


The Selection committee reached a consensus and declared the names of the players who will travel for the upcoming tournaments starting with Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold (May 30th-June 4th), followed by Indonesia Open Super Series (June 12th ?June 18th) and Australian Open Super Series (June 20th ? June 25th).


World No 22 Sai Praneeth will lead the Indian challenge in Thailand in the men's singles along with fit-again Parupalli Kashyap in action.


Kashyap who returned to the international arena last month at the China Masters after a long injury lay-off had a decent outing as he managed to qualify for the pre-quarter- finals.


In the women's singles, World No. 9 Saina Nehwal will be the cynosure of all Indian hopes. The 2012 Thailand Open winner, Saina will be eager to win her second title here.


The Grand Prix Gold event will also be an ideal platform for the upcoming shuttlers to show their mettle and apart from the experienced names; it will also see a host of young Indian players rubbing shoulders against some of the biggest players of the world.


Harsheel Dani, Siril Verma, Rahul Yadav, Subhankar Dey will represent the country in men?s singles, while in the women's singles category it will be Ira Sharma, Ruthvika Shivani and Akarshi Kashyap and Rituparna Das who will be in action as well apart from Saina.


Duo of Shlok Ramachandra/MR Arjun will be the lone Indian pair in the men's doubles category, while the pair of J Meghna/Poorvisha Ram will vie it out in the women?s doubles competition.


In Indonesia Open and Australia Open, India's hopes will rest on the duo of World No 4 PV Sindhu and Saina.


In the men's singles, World No 13 Ajay Jayaram will lead the strong Indian contingent along with 2017 Singapore Open finalist Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma and Kashyap.


Ashwini Ponappa/Sikki Reddy will be the lone Indian pair in the women?s doubles competition. The team of Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy and Sumeeth Reddy/ Ashwini P will feature in the mixed doubles action.


"We have announced the team in advance so that the players can plan their travel properly and have ample time to prepare better both physically and mentally for the tournaments," Anup Narang, Honorary General Secretary and official spokesperson of BAI said.


Full List:


Thailand Open (May 30 - June 4)


Men's Singles: Rahul Yadav, Harsheel Dani, Subhankar Dey, P Kashyap, B.Sai Praneeth, Siril Verma, Sourav Verma; Women's Singles: Saina Nehwal, Rituparna Das, Ruthvika Shivani, Akarshi Kashyap, Ira Sharma; Women's Doubles: J Meghna/Poorvisha Ram; Men's Doubles: Shlok Ramachandra/MR Arjun


Indonesia Open (June 12 - June 18)


Men's Singles: Ajay Jayaram, Kidambi Srikanth, H.S Prannoy, P Kashyap, B.Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma; Women's Singles: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal; Women's Doubles: Ashwini Ponappa/Sikki Reddy; Mixed Doubles: Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy, Sumeeth Reddy/Ashwini Ponappa; Men's Doubles: Manu Attri/Sumeeth Reddy, Chirag Shetty/Satwik Sairaj


Australian Open (June 20 - June 25)


Men's Singles: Kidambi Srikanth, Sameer Verma, Parupalli Kashyap, Ajay Jayaram, H.S. Prannoy, Sai Praneeth; Women's Singles: Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu ; Men's Doubles: Manu Attri/Sumeeth Reddy, Chirag Shetty/Satwik Sairaj; Women's Doubles: Ashwini Ponappa/Sikki Reddy; Mixed Doubles: Pranaav Jerry Chopra/Sikki Reddy, Sumeeth Reddy/Ashwini Ponappa.