PV Sindhu agrees to assist India in Uber Cup after all
After withdrawing due to personal reasons, Sindhu has now agreed to travel to Denmark for the Thomas and Uber Cup on a request from the BAI.
Just days after she informed about her unavailability for the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup, reigning world badminton champion PV Sindhu has agreed to play for India in Denmark.
Sindhu’s change in plans came after Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Himanta Biswa Sarma requested the star shuttler to assist the Uber Cup squad.
Taking to Twitter, the BAI chief confirmed that the Rio 2016 Olympics silver medallist will join the Indian badminton team in the coming days after attending a family event.
“I have requested PV Sindhu to join the team as we have a favourable draw and have the best chance to take a shot at a medal at the Thomas and UberCup. She has agreed and will prepone her family function so that she can be part of the Indian team and play for the country,” Sarma tweeted.
Last week, Sindhu’s father PV Ramana had said she would skip the world team event slated from October 3-11 in Aarhus, Denmark but was looking forward to the remainder of the season.
The Thomas and Uber Cup will be followed by the Denmark Open Super 750 event and Denmark Masters later in October as the Badminton World Federation (BWF) hopes to get the season back on track following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indian badminton team for the Thomas and Uber Cups will be announced on September 17.
Doubles pair Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy decided to skip the Thomas Cup since the latter is recovering from COVID-19, diagnosed late last month.
Thailand pulls out
Meanwhile, the Thailand national team has decided to withdraw from the 2020 edition of the Thomas and Uber Cup.
This comes after two of their leading shuttlers -- the former world champion Ratchanok Intanon and the world No. 3 mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai decided against travelling to Denmark given the prevailing situation.
“Badminton Association of Thailand cited special circumstances related to COVID-19 in addition to injuries to key players in making the decision,” the BWF said in a statement.
Thailand joins Australia and Chinese Taipei among nations who have withdrawn from the Thomas and Uber Cup. The BWF is still awaiting confirmation from China and South Korea.