INDIA BADMINTON CONTINGENTS SELECTED FOR CWG, ASIAD, THOMAS AND UBER CUP, SAINA NOT IN SQUAD

Following six days of highvoltage competition and nailbiting action in the selection trials here at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Thursday announced strong Indian contingents to participate in the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

The London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal, who could not participate in trials, is not included in any of the squads. For the Commonwealth Games, the men's team consists of Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty and B Sumeeth Reddy while PV Sindhu will lead the women's squad which has Aakarshi Kashyap, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Pand Ashwini Ponappa. Sumeet Reddy and Ponappa made the cut into the men's and women's squads respectively for the Commonwealth Games after their top-place finish in the mixed doubles category.

The 14-year-old teenage sensation from Rohtak Unnati Hooda definitely caught selectors' eyes as she secured a place for the Asian Games as well as Uber Cup by finishing third in the women's singles after Kashyap and Ashmita Chaliha, who claimed first and second positions respectively. Hooda is the youngest Indian badminton player to be part of the Asian Games squad.