Indian men focus on defending Thomas Cup title: Just two years ago, India sent shockwaves across the badminton world when it won its first Thomas Cup crown, considered the team world championship for men.
Indian men focus on defending Thomas Cup title
The star singles players will be aiming to make consistent runs as the Indian men embark on an arduous journey to defend their title at the Thomas Cup, while a young women’s team, the peerless PV, will be on target. Sindhu will look to punch above her weight when she begins her campaign at the Uber Cup in Chengdu on Saturday.
Just two years ago, India sent shockwaves across the badminton world when it won its first Thomas Cup crown, considered the team world championship for men.
Unburdened by expectations, India demolished the world’s best teams to script an unprecedented chapter in the history of the sport and now it is back to the 33rd edition with the daunting task of showcasing its mettle once again.
However, the underdog tag will not be there this time. Indeed, all teams will be gunning for the defending Thomas Cup title champions, which retain the core of the 2022 team.
India will rely on the experience of the last edition as it is placed in the ‘Group of Death’, with multiple winners Indonesia, Thailand and England in Group C.
Indian men focus on defending Thomas Cup title
The Indian men will open their campaign against Thailand, who will be buoyed by reigning world champions Kunlavut Vitidsorn and youngster Panitchaphon Terratsakula.
But the strongest will be third-seeded Indonesia, who have the likes of Jonathan Christie and Anthony Ginting – both of whom played in the All England final in March – and world No.7 duo Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Fajar Alfian.
“This year will be tough. Based on present form, there are a lot of teams with 3 strong singles and 2 doubles players like China, Denmark, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Indonesia,” HS Prannoy said PTI.
A lot can happen in two years and none of the Indian players who arrive in China this week are the same.
Indian men focus on defending Thomas Cup title; The young women’s team shines in the Uber Cup 2024
Prannoy, who delivered the goods under pressure in the deciding fifth singles match, is coming into the tournament after struggling in the first half of the season, due to a chronic stomach ailment that has returned after troubling him in the past.
His 90-minute marathon battle en route to a morale-boosting victory over China’s Lu Guangju, however, showed he is close to recovery and will carry the burden of giving the team a good start as he is the top singles player, now world No.9.
Lakshya Sen has found his mojo just in time with back-to-back semi-final finishes at the French Open and All England Championships after enduring a tough 2023 and early 2024.
Kidambi Srikanth, who won six matches in 2022, has blown hot and cold in the last two years. He also suffered heavy defeats in the team championship finals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2023 Asian Games.
Another player who could be tasked with third singles is youngster Priyanshu Rajawat, who was part of the team that won the epic title in Bangkok and has since claimed his maiden Super 300 title in Orleans last year.
The rest had an inconsistent run, with Satviksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty looking unstoppable and coming into the prestigious event with four consecutive finals on the World Tour. The duo will spearhead India’s campaign.
Dhruv Kapila and Arjun MR, who will play second doubles, won a couple of titles at the Uganda International Challenge and Orleans Polish Open, besides a quarter-final finish at the Spain Masters in March.
“As a team, we have evolved in the last 2-3 years. Everyone has been able to put aside their individual problems for a week and go through the mental challenges in a better way during team events,” said Prannoy.
Prannoy and Srikanth are likely to be rotated during the event, leaving Sen and Rajawat more of the responsibility to deliver. Also there is Kiran George, who is in decent touch.
In the Uber Cup, Asmita Chaliha will lead a young Indian team with all the big guns skipping the tournament after competing in a series of tournaments to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
The Greenhorns will look to test their mental and physical strength against top international players as they start their campaign against Canada in Group A.
Indian men focus on defending Thomas Cup title; The young women’s team shines in the Uber Cup 2024
Top seeds and multiple winners China and Singapore are also in their group, making it difficult for the young women’s team to get past the group stage.
Apart from Asmita, national champion Anmol Kharab, who was the star performer for India in her maiden Asia Team Championship title journey, will also test her stuff, as will Isharani Barua and 15-year-old Tanvi Sharma.
India, which has reached the semi-finals of the Uber Cup three times in 1957, 2014 and 2016, will also field the doubles duo of Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam and Simran Singhi and Ritika Thackeray.