Tough challenge awaits the Indian team as they take on Thailand in their Group A encounter of Sudirman Cup 2021. China and Finland are the other two teams in the group and India is seeded third in the group with the top two teams qualifying for knockouts.
India is without the services of top women’s shuttler in PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal and the campaign will be led by former Khelo India Games champion Malvika Bansod and Aditi Bhatt in women’s singles. Thailand will also miss the services of Ratchanok Intanon and the campaign will be led by world no 10 Pornpawee Chochuwong and world no 13 Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
Chirag Shetty suffered a muscle pull and was advised a one week of rest which led to the team of Satwiksairaj and Shetty to miss out the multi team event. In their absence, Dhruv Kapila and MR Arjun will have to deliver the goods in men’s doubles.
In men’s singles- B Sai Praneeth, Kidambi Srikanth will spearhead the team and the pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy will lead in the women’s doubles discipline.
India first participated in the tournament in 2009 and finished at the quarter-final stage in the 2011 edition.
Our prediction for the tie- India losing 4-1
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Catch live action on @StarSportsIndia & @DisneyPlusHS from 12:30 pm ?#IndiaontheRise#badminton pic.twitter.com/zM6o3lswmP
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) September 26, 2021
Live streaming and TV broadcasting
For the delight of the badminton fans in India, the tie will be broadcasted live on Star Sport 2 & HD from 12:30 PM IST on 26th September 2021 from Energia Arena Court in Vantaa, Finland.
Live streaming will be available on hotstar.com or Hotstar mobile application.
Indian team–B. Sai Praneeth, K. Srikanth, R. Satwiksairaj, Dhruv Kapila and M.R. Arjun, Malvika Bansod, Aditi Bhatt, Tanisha Crasto, Rutuparna Panda, Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy.
