Daijiworld Media Network - Qingdao

Qingdao, Feb 3: The sixth edition of the Badminton Asia Team Championships got underway in Qingdao, China, on Tuesday, with Asia’s top men’s and women’s national teams competing for honours.

India’s women’s team will begin their title defence without two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who has withdrawn from the tournament. The Indian women have been placed in Group Y alongside fourth seeds Thailand and Myanmar. Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Malvika Bansod, and the doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand form the core of the Indian women’s squad.

The Indian men’s team has been drawn in Group C with fourth seeds Japan and Singapore. The men’s side will be led by Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth in singles, while the experienced doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will spearhead the doubles challenge.

Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to begin their respective campaigns on Wednesday.