India will arrive in Aichi-Nagoya with a badminton squad that blends proven Asian Games pedigree with a new generation looking to make its mark. At the centre of the campaign are reigning men’s doubles champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, as India begins its Asian Games campaign on September 20.
The 20-member badminton contingent is part of India’s wider squad for the 20th Asian Games, which officially opens on September 19 and runs until October 4 across Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The badminton competition will be staged from September 20 to 29, beginning with the team events before the individual competitions take centre stage.
For India, the challenge is not simply to repeat the success of Hangzhou. The badminton team enters these Games with a title to defend and several younger players hoping to turn potential into medals. Satwik and Chirag carry the defending champions’ tag. The biggest spotlight will naturally fall on Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
The pair created history at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, becoming the first Indian badminton men’s doubles pair to win Asian Games gold. They will now return to defend that title, carrying perhaps the clearest medal-winning responsibility in the squad. Their presence also gives India considerable experience in the men’s team event. M.R. Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan form the second men’s doubles combination, while Dhruv Kapila has been selected for mixed doubles alongside his team commitments.
The men’s singles group includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty and Tharun Mannepalli, with H.S. Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth also part of the men’s team. Lakshya, who leads India’s men’s singles challenge, will be looking to add another major continental performance to his growing record. Prannoy, meanwhile, returns after winning a bronze medal in men’s singles at the previous Asian Games. Srikanth was also part of India’s silver-medal-winning men’s team campaign in Hangzhou.
Sindhu leads a changing women’s group. On the women’s side, PV Sindhu remains the headline name. The two-time Olympic medallist is joined by Unnati Hooda in the singles category, while the women’s doubles challenge features Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand as one pair, with Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi forming the other combination. Tanisha Crasto will compete in mixed doubles and also be part of the women’s team, while Tanvi Sharma, Devika Sihag and Isharani Baruah complete the women’s squad.
The selection reflects the Badminton Association of India’s effort to combine established international experience with emerging talent. BAI’s selection process considered BWF rankings and recent international performances, with the association’s selection criteria also allowing trials where necessary to fill remaining positions. India won three badminton medals at Hangzhou, with Satwik and Chirag taking gold, the men’s team winning silver and Prannoy claiming bronze. The upcoming Games therefore offer opportunities across both team and individual events.
The defining feature of India’s badminton campaign is the balance between defending champions and emerging contenders. Satwik and Chirag arrive as title holders, Sindhu brings two Olympic medals and immense major-event experience, while Lakshya and the younger members of the squad represent the next phase of Indian badminton.
That depth could prove particularly valuable during the team event, where India will need contributions across singles and doubles rather than relying on one star pairing. The men’s team also retains much of the group that delivered silver at Hangzhou, while the women’s squad provides opportunities for a younger generation to gain experience on one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages.
With India having won a record 107 medals across sports at Hangzhou, expectations will again be high in Japan. The badminton campaign, however, will have its own benchmark. The task begins with the team events before attention shifts to the individual competitions from September 25.
For Satwik and Chirag, it is about defending history. For Sindhu, Lakshya and the rest of the squad, it is about adding another chapter to India’s growing presence in Asian badminton. The first shuttle will be served on September 20, and from there, the medal chase begins.
