Anna 
India’s chances of progressing to the medal rounds at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships took a significant hit as PV Sindhu was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a hamstring injury. The prestigious tournament is set to begin in Qingdao, China, on today, with India now facing an uphill battle in Sindhu’s absence.
Sindhu sustained the injury during a training camp in Guwahati last week. Despite efforts from the support staff to get her match-ready, the injury prevented her participation. Without the two-time Olympic medalist, India’s prospects of reaching the later stages of the competition have diminished. The team, who earned a bronze medal in the 2023 edition, now faces an uphill challenge, with expectations of making it past the quarterfinals being slim.
India has been placed in Group D alongside South Korea and Macau. While they are likely to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, expected victories over Macau will not be enough to guarantee further success. The top teams—China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei—are all set to compete fiercely for a quarterfinal berth, making India’s journey more difficult.
India’s roster has been impacted by Sindhu’s absence, with Malvika Bansod stepping in for the women’s singles. In the men’s singles category, Lakshya Sen or HS Prannoy will take Sindhu’s place. The men’s doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, however, remains a bright spot, maintaining the highest level of performance. Women’s doubles players Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who have recently broken into the top 10 of the world rankings, will also represent India.
In mixed doubles, National Games gold medalists Sathish Karunakaran and Aadya Variyath are expected to feature prominently. If India fails to top their group, a difficult quarterfinal matchup against either China or Indonesia looms large.
With the competition heating up, India’s hopes for another podium finish appear uncertain, as they face a tough road ahead in Sindhu’s absence.
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