Sudirman Cup 2021: Know all about India's opponents - China, Thailand and Finland

India will have their task cut out at the 2021 Sudirman Cup where they have been drawn in Group A alongside defending champions China, three-time semi-finalists Thailand and hosts Finland.

B Sai Praneeth will lead the charge for India at the biennial international badminton championship, looking to atone for his disappointing performance at Tokyo 2020. He will also have support in 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG) silver medallist Kidambi Srikanth. Doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty and Dhruv Kapila are other men's players named in the squad.

Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy are among the experienced Indian women shuttlers in the squad alongside Malvika Bansod, Aditi Bhatt, Tanisha Crasto and Rutuparna Panda.

Let us know more about India's upcoming campaign and their opponents:

When will India's campaign at the Sudirman Cup 2021 begin?

India will begin their campaign at the Sudirman Cup 2021 against Thailand in the group stage encounter on September 26.

Their next group stage matches will be against China (September 27) and Finland (September 29).

What do the squads for India's opponents look like?

China

China is the most successful team in the history of the Sudirman Cup with 11 titles to their name. The defending champions will be boosted with the presence of Tokyo 2020 women's singles gold medallist Chen Yufei in their squad.

It should also be noted that the Chinese team have triumphed in eight of the last nine editions of the mixed-team championship.

Squad: Chen Yufei, Wang Yilyu, Huang Dongping, He Bing Jiao, Lu Guangzu, Li Shifeng, Wang Zhiyi, Liu Cheng, Feng Yanzhe, He Jiting, Shi Yuqi, and Tan Qiang.

Thailand

Thailand have been dealt with a major jolt as their top women's singles player and 2013 World Champion Ratchanok Intanon has withdrawn from the 2021 Sudirman Cup.

In her absence, the 17-member Thailand squad, will be a mix of experienced campaigners such as 2018 Asian Games (women's team) bronze medallist Pornpawee Chochuwong and Busanan Ongbamrungphan alongwith some of the rising stars.

It will be upon them to better Thailand's record of reaching the semi-finals thrice -- 2013, 2017 and 2019 -- at the Sudirman Cup.

Squad: Benyapha Iamsaard , Nantakan Iamsaard, Pittayaporn Chaiwan, Pornpawee Chochuwong, Supak Chomko, Kittinupong. Keturen, Jongkolphan Kititharakul, Busanun Ungbamrungphan, Supisara Puresampran, Rawinda Prajongjai, Dechapol Puavaranukroh, Putita Suphajirakul, Sapsiree Taerattana Chai, Nattapat Trinkhajee, Tanuphat Wiriyangkun, Kulwut Withitsarn and Kantaphon Wangcharoen

Finland

Hosts Finland are yet to taste success at the Sudirman Cup. The Finnish side, incidentally, have never made it past the group stage at the mixed team championships but will be looking to better their record in 2021.

Squad: Eetu Heino, Iikka Heino, Anton Kaisti, Hanna Karkaus, Kalle Koljonen, Joonas Korhonen, Miika Lahtinen, Tony Lindelöf, Mathilda Lindholm, Nella Nyqvist, Jenny Nyström, Joakim Oldorff, Jere Övermark, Jesper Paul, Heidi Puro, Nella Siilasmaa, Lina Suutarinen.