INdia’s top shuttlers, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, will be in action for the first time since the coronavirus-forced break as they participate in three upcoming Bangkok tournaments, including the coveted BWF World Tour Finals.
With Olympic qualifications in mind, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) declared on Monday that a strong eight-member squad will compete in the next three tournaments scheduled for January. The squad, consisting of Olympic-bound shuttlers Sindhu, Saina, B Sai Praneeth, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Ashwini Ponappa and N Sikki Reddy, will begin their campaign with Yonex Thailand Open from 12 to 17 January.
This will be followed by the Toyota Thailand Open (January 19-24) and the coveted HSBC BWF World Tour Finals scheduled for January 27-31.
After the coronavirus epidemic in March rocked the sporting landscape resulting in the cancellation or postponement of a host of tournaments, this will be the first time that top Indian athletes, apart from Srikanth, will compete in any international tournament.
