Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and reigning men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will headline India’s badminton squad for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) selection committee finalised the squad after reviewing recent performances across national and international tournaments, along with BWF rankings as of May 26.
India enter the Games aiming to replicate or even surpass their standout 2023 campaign in Hangzhou, where the country produced its most successful badminton showing at the Asian Games with one gold, one silver, and an individual bronze medal through H. S. Prannoy. Indian badminton has won 13 medals in Asian Games history, including a breakthrough gold at the previous edition.
The men’s unit will be led by India’s top-ranked men’s singles player Lakshya Sen and includes last edition’s bronze medallist Prannoy and former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth. All three were part of India’s historic men’s team silver-medal run at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Selection highlights and depth across categories
BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra said the current phase of Indian badminton is being driven by both established names and growing depth across categories. He pointed to recent encouraging signs, including Satwik-Chirag returning to their best, Sen’s return to the world’s top 10, the men’s team reaching another Thomas Cup podium earlier this year, and consistent contributions from senior players alongside younger athletes delivering strong international results.
The men’s contingent retains much of the core that secured a bronze medal at the BWF Thomas Cup earlier this year, underlining continuity as India target another major multi-sport podium. Alongside the senior trio of Sen, Prannoy and Srikanth, the squad includes Badminton Asia Championships silver medallist Ayush Shetty, who has earned selection after a string of impressive performances on the international circuit.
On the women’s side, Sindhu leads a group that also features BWF World Junior Championships Individual Championship silver medallist Tanvi Sharma and Team Championship medallist Unnati Hooda. The squad also includes Thailand Masters Super 300 champion Devika Sihag, as well as Isharani Baruah, adding further options in singles.
In doubles, India will lean on established combinations and a mix of experience and form. Rankireddy and Shetty, named as the top men’s doubles pair for the individual championships, are joined in the broader team set-up by Hariharan Amsakarunan and M. R. Arjun, who arrive in strong form. Arjun also brings experience from India’s silver-winning men’s team campaign in 2022.
In women’s doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela will continue to anchor India’s challenge, with Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi also included. In mixed doubles, Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto are listed as India’s top duo for the individual championships, while Crasto is also part of the women’s team group.
The Asian Games squad announcement also comes with a historical marker for Indian badminton. India’s highest medal tally at the Asian Games came at the 1982 New Delhi edition, where the country secured five bronze medals. The Hangzhou 2023 campaign, however, remains the benchmark for overall success in badminton at the Games, and the Aichi-Nagoya edition provides the next opportunity to build on that momentum.
India squad: Team Championship
Men’s: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, H. S. Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amsakarunan, M. R. Arjun, Dhruv Kapila.
Women’s: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Devika Sihag, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Crasto.
India squad: Individual Championship entries
Men’s Singles (MS): Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty.
Women’s Singles (WS): PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda.
Men’s Doubles (MD): Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty; Hariharan Amsakarunan / M. R. Arjun.
Women’s Doubles (WD): Treesa Jolly / Gayatri Gopichand Pullela; Kavipriya Selvam / Simran Singhi.
Mixed Doubles (XD): Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto.
What India will target at Aichi-Nagoya
With representation across all five disciplines in the individual championships and a team roster built around proven performers and emerging talent, India will head into the September 19 to October 4 window looking to extend the progress made in Hangzhou. The selection reflects a blend of experience, depth and youth, with Sindhu, Sen and the Satwik-Chirag pairing positioned as the headline names for India’s Asian Games badminton campaign.
