Prannoy and Anmol Kharb to lead India’s team at Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in China

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has announced the men’s and women’s teams for the BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2024 in Chengdu, China from April 27 to May 5. H.S. Prannoy and Anmol Kharb will lead India’s challenge with a mix of youth and experience in the squads.

The men’s team for the Thomas Cup includes H.S. Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Priyanshu Rajawat, and Kiran George in singles, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and M.R. Arjun and Dhruv Kapila will play doubles. An additional singles player was added due to the hectic schedule of players.

In the previous Thomas Cup, India made history by defeating Indonesia to claim their first title. With top players focusing on the Paris Olympics qualification, the selection committee aimed for a balanced team. The Uber Cup team comprises youngsters after top players withdrew for Olympic preparation and due to multiple tournaments.

BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra expressed confidence in the selection committee’s decisions, emphasizing the need for a well-rounded team for both tournaments. The committee includes chief national coach Pullela Gopichand and former players like Jwala Gutta and U. Vimal Kumar, ensuring thorough deliberation in squad selection.

The Thomas Cup squad features top names in Indian badminton, with a strong focus on singles and established doubles pairs. The Uber Cup team comprises promising young players, chosen based on recent performances at the National Championships. Mishra wished the teams success in the upcoming tournaments to make the nation proud.