India’s PV Sindhu shines at Asian Championships in Dubai – News

India are in Group B of the Asian Badminton Mixed Team Championships with hosts UAE, Malaysia and Kazakhstan

India’s PV Sindhu and officials pose with the Badminton Asian Mixed Team Championships trophy in Dubai on Tuesday. – Photos provided

Star shuttler PV Sindhu will lead Team India at the Badminton Asian Mixed Team Championships in Dubai (14-19 February).

Sindhu, whose stress fracture in her left foot kept her out for four months after winning gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, has added another piece of silverware to her gleaming trophy cabinet, which includes a gold medal at the World Championships. He won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals in the Olympic Games.

Sindhu, 27, is now fit and eager to win the Badminton Asian Mixed Team Championships here from February 14-19.

“Health and fitness are absolutely fine. At that time, I got injured and I was out for almost four months. I was back on the track, so starting in January, playing the Malaysia Open and the India Open. So now I’m preparing for Asian Badminton Mixed team championship,” Sindhu said at the draw ceremony in Dubai on Tuesday.

“So I hope I can do well and give my best. Overall, my physical condition is absolutely fine. So hope for the best.”

India are in Group B of the Asian Badminton Mixed Team Championships with hosts United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.

Sindhu will lead the Indian challenge with men’s singles world number nine HS Prannoy and she is confident of her team’s chances.

“I’m happy with the draw; we got a favorable draw. I hope we can do well in this campaign,” Sindhu said.

“We have some of the best men’s singles players in Prannoy and Lakshya (Sen), as well as doubles players. We are confident of putting on a good show.”

But Sindhu and her teammates will face an intense battle for the medal in a competition that attracts the best players from the strongest badminton continent.

China, Indonesia and Japan, the traditional badminton powerhouses, are the other top seeds in Groups A, C and D.

The draw ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Dubai Sports Council.

Saeed Hareb, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council; Noura Aljasmi, Chairman, UAE Badminton Federation; Jassem Kanso, Treasurer, Badminton Asia; Moosa Nashid, Secretary General, Badminton Asia; CEO, Blue Ocean Corporation Sathya Menon, CEO, Beyond Boundaries Sports Management Consultancy Group Doctors were also present at the draw.

Players participating in the Dubai Asian Championships will not only get qualification points for the 2026 Paris Olympics, but also give them the opportunity to gain a foothold in global badminton championships such as the Sudirman Cup, Thomas Cup and Uber Cup.

Saeed Hareb said events such as the Asian Championships in Dubai will inspire local talent.

“Badminton has received a lot of attention throughout the UAE, especially in Dubai because it is an Olympic sport. Dane Viktor Axelsen, who trained in Dubai, won a gold medal at Tokyo 2020 ,’ Syed Hareb said at the draw ceremony.

“We hope this championship will inspire several young men and women in the country to practice and develop in it. Hopefully they will represent their country in the World Championships and the Olympics.”

Beyond Boundaries Sports Management Consultancy Blue Ocean Corporation chief executive Dr Menon has signed an agreement with Badminton Asia to host the five-year Badminton Asia Championships in Dubai from 2023 to 2027, saying his organization is committed to helping the sport develop domestically.

“It has been a great journey with many challenges along the way. But we have overcome them and today we are celebrating the success of all our efforts,” Dr Menon said at Tuesday’s draw.

He added: “I hope we can put on a great event; the Dubai event will open a new chapter, the growth of the fan base and the popularity of the sport in the region.”