Given their unprecedented success in the recent past, expectations are high from Indian shuttlers to win that elusive Asian Games badminton gold and return from Hangzhou with their best-ever haul. The Indian badminton players begin their campaign with the team championships on Thursday, September 28. India has bagged 10 badminton medals in Asian Games history, including three individual singles medals, three men's team bronze, two women's team bronze and one medal each in men's doubles and mixed doubles. (Full Coverage | Medal Tally | Badminton News)
Since the 1986 edition at Seoul, India has not won a medal in the men's team event but the country has a great chance of breaking the jinx this time. Indian men's team heads into the competition as Thomas Cup champions, an epic feat achieved in May 2022.
The core of the team remains the same with HS Prannoy, Lakshya Sen and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty -- all in good form and the Indian team would hope the rub of the green also goes their way when it begins the campaign on Thursday. However, it will be easier said than done as global powerhouses such as China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia are also in the competition.
Indian Players To Watch Out For:
Kidambi Srikanth, a 2021 world championships silver medallist, hasn't hit the right form ahead of the Games but vies to be third-time lucky and add an Asian Games medal to his trophy cabinet after two failed attempts.
PV Sindhu remains the cynosure of the eyes but the Hyderabadi has made an early exit from tournaments 10 times this season with her best finish being the Spain Masters Final in April. Sindhu would require an incredible feat to clinch a medal at the Asian Games 2023 if she can turn around her poor form around.
While the doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly are the next highest-ranked players in the team after Sindhu, it will be an uphill task to expect Ashmita Chaliha, Anupama Upadhyay and Malvika Bansod to tame the likes of An Se Young, Tai Tzu Ying or Akane Yamaguchi.
Among others, Dhruv Kapila/MR Arjun, Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto, and Rohan Kapoor/Sikki Reddy and Sai Pratheek/Tanisha Crasto are the other pairs who will be in the fray at Hangzhou.
You can check the badminton schedule for the Asian Games 2023 here
Live Streaming Information:
When and where to watch Badminton matches in Asian Games 2023 in India?
One can catch all the action of the badminton games in the Asian Games 2023 live on the Sony Sports Network. Simultaneously, one can also live stream it on the SonyLIV app and website.
