Two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in China due to a hamstring injury, which poses a significant setback for India’s chances of enhancing its medal tally in this prestigious event.
Sindhu expressed her support for the team, stating that she would be “cheering from the sidelines.”
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Qingdao from February 11 to 16, with Indian players currently in training at a camp in Guwahati. In addition to Sindhu, other prominent players in the camp include Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy, along with the strong doubles team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
Sindhu was part of the squad that won a bronze medal in the previous edition of the tournament. Since securing her first women’s singles gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Sindhu has struggled with injuries. She sustained a left foot stress fracture during the Games, which forced her to miss all remaining tournaments in 2022, including the World Championships and the World Tour Finals.
India is placed in a challenging Group D alongside runners-up South Korea and Macau. The campaign will kick off against Macau on February 12, followed by a difficult match against South Korea on February 13.
