2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships: India's Title Defense Challenge Without Sindhu
The Indian women's badminton team faces a formidable challenge as they prepare to defend their title at the 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao, China, starting this week. In a significant setback, double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu has withdrawn from the tournament due to medical concerns, leaving a void in the squad that will test the depth of India's emerging talent.
Women's Team: New Generation Steps Up in Sindhu's Absence
With Sindhu unavailable, the responsibility falls on a mix of promising youngsters and experienced doubles specialists. The Badminton Association of India confirmed that no replacement will be made for Sindhu, who started her season strongly at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 before her withdrawal.
Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda are expected to lead the singles charge. Hooda, just 18 years old, comes into the tournament after a breakthrough 2025 season where she:
- Achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 23
- Defeated PV Sindhu at the China Open
- Became the youngest Indian ever to win a BWF Super 100 title
- Ended 2025 with a title victory at the Odisha Masters
Tanvi Sharma has shown impressive form early in 2026 with strong performances at the India Open Super 750 and Indonesia Masters Super 500, demonstrating significant potential against higher-ranked opponents.
The doubles challenge will be spearheaded by Commonwealth Games bronze medallists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, who successfully defended their Syed Modi International crown in December. They will be supported by Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, and Tanisha Crasto in the doubles department.
Men's Team: Lakshya Sen Leads Strong Contingent
On the men's side, Lakshya Sen (world number 13) captains a formidable squad featuring veteran stars Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy – both former World Championship medallists. Lakshya enjoyed a successful 2025 season with an Australian Open victory and a Hong Kong Open final appearance.
The team's strength extends to:
- Ayush Shetty as India's number two singles player after his US Open Super 300 triumph last year
- The formidable doubles pairing of two-time World Championships bronze medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
- Additional doubles support from Sai Pratheek K, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, and Hariharan Amsakarunan
Tournament Schedule and Group Details
India's women's team, placed in Group Y, begins their campaign against Myanmar on Wednesday, followed by a crucial match against Thailand. The men's team, in Group C, opens against Singapore before facing a tougher challenge against Japan.
Key Schedule (All IST Timings):
- 4th February: 8:30 AM – India Women vs Myanmar; 2:30 PM – India Men vs Singapore
- 5th February: 8:30 AM – India Women vs Thailand; 2:30 PM – India Men vs Japan
- 6th February: Quarter-finals
- 7th February: Semi-finals
- 8th February: Final
Where to Watch the Championships
The Badminton Asia Team Championships 2026 will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network. For digital viewers, the tournament will also be available for streaming on the official Badminton Asia YouTube channel, ensuring comprehensive coverage for badminton enthusiasts across India.
This biennial continental event represents a crucial test for Indian badminton as both teams aim to build momentum ahead of major international competitions. The women seek to prove they can maintain their championship pedigree without their star player, while the men look to convert their individual successes into team glory.
