Saina, badminton body at loggerheads over skipping event
NEWDELHI: Saina Nehwal wants to skip next month’s Asia Team Championship to prepare for the All England Championship but the Badminton Association of India (BAI) is trying to convince her to play the event, which also serves as a qualifier for the Uber Cup.
Saina, who is currently playing at the Indonesia Masters after recovering from an ankle injury, has written a letter to BAI to allow her to withdraw from the event scheduled from February 6 to 11 in Malaysia.
However, BAI is trying to convince Saina to modify her training program and accommodate the tournament in her schedule.
“It is a critical tournament since it is a qualifier for Thomas and Uber Cup. If we don’t qualify we will be out of the World group, so we will have to field the best team,” BAI secretary Anup Narang said.
“So I am writing to Saina, requesting her to consider revising her training program so that she is able to play since it is a matter of national pride.
“I understand she has come out of an injury and she is preparing for All England but my only request to the players is that they can schedule their training program in such a way that they can play in these important events,” he added.
To ensure that India qualifies for the tournament, BAI decided to field a formidable line-up for this year’s edition. BAI named Saina, P V Sindhu alongwith youngsters Krishna Priya and Ruthvika Gaade in the women’s team for the Asian Championships, which will be decided on three singles and two doubles.
Indian women’s team has reached the semi-finals in the 2014 and 2016 editions of the Uber Cup.
POOR START FOR INDIA AT INDONESIA MASTERS
JAKARTA: India witnessed a dismal start at the Indonesia Masters as none of the shuttlers could cross the qualifying stage at the $350,00 World Tour Super 500 tournament. While Abhishek Yelegar lost 20-22, 14-21 to Vega Vio Nirwanda, Subhankar Dey suffered a 9-21, 21-23 loss against a Panji Ahmad Maulana. In women’s singles qualifiers, Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli lost to 7-21. 9-21 to Goh Jin Wei. Men’s doubles pair of Kapil Chaudhary and Brijesh Yadav too lost 12-21, 8-21 to Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Frengky Wijaya Putra.