Thomas and Uber Cup: Saina & Co eye another medal, uphill task for men

After clinching a historic bronze medal in the last edition, the Indian women’s team, led by Saina Nehwal, will eye another good show this time around but it is expected to be an uphill task for the depleted men’s team at the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton tournament starting in Kunshan, China, on Sunday.

India’s women team reached the quarter-finals for the first time at the 2010 Uber Cup in Kuala Lumpur but it was only in 2014 that they clinched their maiden medal after going down 2-3 to five-time champions Japan in the semi-finals.

India are clubbed with 2014 runners-up Japan, Australia and Germany and once again the onus will be on Rio-bound shuttlers Saina and P.V. Sindhu to earn them wins in the two singles.

In a format comprising of three singles and two doubles, once again it will be Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa — both have booked their Rio berths — who will carry the responsibility. Besides, there will be N. Sikki Reddy and K. Maneesha for the second doubles.

India face Australia in their campaign opener on Monday, before taking on Germany and formidable Japan in the next two days respectively.

In the Thomas Cup, Ajay Jayaram will spearhead India’s challenge in the absence of world no. 12 K. Srikanth, who had given it a miss, while H.S. Prannoy is nursing a foot injury.

In the doubles, Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy will lead the challenge. India are in Group B along with Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong and though it seems like a relatively easy draw, the absence of top players will hurt India’s chances to progress.

Meanwhile, Lin Dan’s China will look to reassert their dominance ahead of the Oly-mpics by resuming their stranglehold on the titles on home ground.