Vantaa (Finland): The Indian team which is a small blend of youth and experience, must punch above its weight in what will be a difficult challenge in the Sudirman Cup mixed team championship here on Sunday.
India has been withdrawn in group A with Chinese defense champions, three times Thailand semifinalists and organized Finland in the BWF tournament, which consisted of two single and three double matches in the tie.
With many star shutters, the Indian team will have a deducted task when starting a campaign against Thailand in the prestigious world mixed team championship.
With a double Olympic medalist and world champion that ruled P v Sindhu forgive him after a busy Olympic campaign and former world No.
1 Saina Nehwal also gave miss, Onus would be on the shoulders of Malvika Bansod and Aditi Bhatt on women.
In men’s doubles, the world No.
10 Chirag Shetty and Satwikaraj Ranking is too back at the last moment after the former suffer from the muscle pull (ABS) and suggested a week’s break.
In their absence, Young Dhruv Kapila and Mr Arjun had to send goods to men’s doubles.
However, India, does have a lot of experience on Single and Women’s women with B Sai Praneeth, Kidambi Srikanth and Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy couples on the team.
First for India will be Thailand, which has reached the semifinals of three times 2013, 2017 and 2019.
With world champions 2013 Rockanok Intanon interesting, Thai troops 17 members will be led by Asian Games (Women’s Team) Medalist and World No.
10 Pornpawee Chochuwong and the world No.
13 Bukaran Ongbamrungphan in a woman’s single, while World No.
18 Kantaphon Wangcharoen will be a top player in Single Men.
India also has to get better than the world no 8 Jongkhan Women Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, World No.
3 Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taattana Chai in a mixed double.
After Thailand, India will face China on September 27 and Finland on September 29.
China has won the title 11 times in the past, and has named the Tangguh team, including Chen Yufei Olympic champion and former British champion Shi Yu Qi, for events.
The world number 21 men doubled from He Ji Ting and Tan Qiang have also been named in the squad, which also consists of Lu Guang Zu, Li Shi Feng, He Bing Jiao, Wang Zhi Yi, Liu Cheng and Feng Yan Zhe.
The third and final team in the group stage will host Finland who has never qualified for the KO stage in the mixed team championship.
The top two teams from each group developed to the KO (quarter-final) round.
Draw the quarter-final will be held immediately after the last group match.
India first participated in the tournament in 2009 and was completed in the quarter-final stage in the 2011 edition.