New Delhi, March 24: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has announced a mixed team of experienced players and rising young talents for the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals. The men’s team will be bolstered by the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, while the singles will be led by Lakshya Sen. The Uber Cup team features a blend of players from different stages of their careers, with two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu at the helm, supported by promising talents like Unnati Hooda.
This prestigious tournament will take place in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3. The upcoming Thomas Cup will mark its 34th edition, while the Uber Cup returns for its 31st edition.
The men’s team retains the core group that led India to its historic Thomas Cup victory in 2022. Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, and HS Prannoy will spearhead the singles, complemented by the established doubles duo of Rankireddy and Shetty. Young shuttler Ayush Shetty has earned his spot on the team following consistent performances in the senior circuit.
In the women’s competition, Sindhu will lead the Indian challenge, accompanied by the top doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly. The team’s objective is to surpass their previous semifinal performance. A group of form-driven young players, including Devika Sihaag, Isharani Barua, and promising talent Tanvi Sharma, will also be part of the squad.
Player selection was based on the BWF rankings as of March 10, which included the top five singles players and the top two doubles pairs. To enhance team synergy, additional players like Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Krasto were included based on their experience in various doubles formats.
The men’s team sees the return of M.R. Arjun, who has made a comeback after recovering from injury, bolstering the doubles lineup alongside Hariharan Amskarunan. Dhruv adds extra support and experience to the doubles team, while Kiran George provides depth in singles.
For the women’s team, Devika’s selection comes after her impressive title win at the Thailand Masters earlier this year, while Isharani joined the team after reaching the semifinals at the Orleans Masters. Tanvi continues to establish herself as one of the most promising players, and Hooda has already secured three senior titles due to her rapid progress.
The doubles lineup will also see Kavipriya Selvam making her debut, adding new depth to the team. Kavipriya will pair with Simran Singhi, while Tanisha Krasto completes this doubles unit.
The 2022 Thomas Cup champions, India, have been placed in Group A alongside the current champions and top seeds, China, Pan Am champions Canada, and Oceania champions Australia.
However, the path to the knockout stages is more challenging for the women’s team, as they are grouped with European Team Championship runners-up Denmark, bronze medalists Ukraine, and reigning champions China.
In the previous edition of the Thomas and Uber Cup held in Chengdu in 2024, the Indian men’s team lost to the eventual winners, China, in the quarterfinals, while the women’s team faced defeat against Japan in the same round. Indonesia holds the record for the most Thomas Cup titles with 14, while China leads the Uber Cup with 16 titles.
Men’s Team: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Kiran George, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Hariharan Amskarunan, M.R. Arjun, Dhruv Kapila.
Women’s Team: P.V. Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihaag, Isharani Barua, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand Pullela, Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, Tanisha Krasto.
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