PV Sindhu pulls out of Badminton Asia Mixed Team C’ships due to injury

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has pulled out of the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships on Sunday, scheduled to be held in Qingdao, China, from February 11 to 16, due to a hamstring injury sustained during training at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Guwahati.

The 14-member Indian squad, announced on January 22, had gathered at the NCE for a five-day training camp from February 4 to 8.

However, during a session on February 8, Sindhu experienced discomfort in her hamstring. Despite attempting to continue training with heavy taping, an MRI scan later confirmed that her recovery would take longer than expected.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share I won’t be traveling with the team for BAMTC 2025. While training on the 4th in Guwahati, I felt a twinge in my hamstring. Despite my efforts to push through with heavy taping for our country, an MRI has revealed that my recovery will take slightly longer than I initially expected,” Sindhu posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday morning. “Wishing the team all the very best. I will be cheering from the sidelines.”

Sindhu’s withdrawal has left the Badminton Association of India (BAI) in a race against time to find a replacement. She was India’s first-choice women’s singles player, with Malvika Bansod being the second option.

BAI had named a strong Indian contingent for the tournament, with Sindhu as the most accomplished player leading the team. In men’s singles, Lakshya Sen was designated as the first-choice player, followed by HS Prannoy.

India also boasts a formidable doubles lineup, with the former World No. 1 pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty spearheading the men’s doubles challenge. In women’s doubles, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly are set to shoulder responsibilities alongside Olympians Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto.

In mixed doubles, Tanisha Crasto will partner with Dhruv Kapila as India’s first-choice pairing, while Sathish Kumar K and Adya Variyath serve as the second combination in the squad.

India, the bronze medallist of the 2023 edition, is placed in Group D alongside South Korea and Macau. India will open its campaign against Macau on February 12, followed by a vital clash against South Korea on February 13.