The Badminton Association of India on December 11 announced the Indian team leaders of the men’s and women’s categories for the 2026 Asia Team Championship. In the last edition of the event, India was declared the champion in the women’s category; meanwhile, the men’s team secured a bronze win. The tournament will see a total of 20 Indian badminton players, 10 each in men’s and women’s, selected to represent the country in the event for next year.
Former world champion and two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu will lead India’s women’s team. In the singles category, she is supported by players including world junior championship silver medalist Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda, Rakshita Sree Santhosh Ramraj, and Malvika Bansod. Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly are headed in the doubles category. Also included in the women’s squad are Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, and Tanisha Crasto.
On the other hand, the men’s squad will be led by World No. 13, Lakshya Sen. He is currently among the top-ranked players in men’s singles. In that category, Sen will be joined by former world no. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Ayush Shetty, and Tharun Mannepalli.
Meanwhile, India’s leading duo and World Championships bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lead the men’s doubles category. Joining him are Guwahati Masters runners-up Sai Pratheek K and Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy. Hariharan Amsakarunan is also in the list.
Following the announcement of India’s squad leaders, which includes Sindhu and Lakshya, the Badminton Association of India’s General Secretary, Mr. Sanjay Mishra, expressed his excitement about Indian talents representing the international stage and offered his best wishes to all the participants.
He said, “Over the last few years, Indian teams have consistently been medal contenders at the Asian and World level and this squad has the right mix of form and experience and is capable of challenging for the crown in both categories. I take this opportunity to wish them all the best for the championships.”
The 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships is scheduled to be held from February 3 to 8, 2026, in Qingdao, the People’s Republic of China.
Indian Squad in BATC 2026
Men’s singles squad: Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, Prannoy HS, Tharun Mannepalli
Men’s doubles squad: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, Sai Pratheek K, Hariharan Amsakarunan
Women’s singles squad: PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, Malvika Bansod
Women’s doubles squad: Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Tanisha Crasto In
