Tokyo 2020: List of badminton entries confirmed – Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Satwik-Chirag from India

The final list of entries for badminton was confirmed on Monday, with Rio silver medallist PV Sindhu, World Championship bronze medallist B Sai Praneeth and rising young doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy the only Indian shuttlers making the cut for India as was expected based on their rankings.

Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s singles gold medallist Chen Long of China is the only defending champion in any of the five categories, the governing body said. Women’s singles gold medallist from 2016 Carolina Marin had confirmed that she had to undergo surgery after scans revealed a tear on her anterior cruciate ligament and both meniscus on her left knee, ruling her out of the Tokyo Games which begins in the Japanese capital on July 23.

India’s only other Olympic medallist in the sport, Saina Nehwal, had missed the cut due to her low ranking in the Race to Tokyo qualification. Former world No 1 Srikanth Kidambi, who was in the draw at Rio 2016, is the other notable absentee.

Viktor Axelsen (Denmark), Sindhu (India), Nozomi Okuhara (Japan) and Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying (Malaysia) are the other returning medallists in their categories. Shin Seungchan (Korea) will look to better her women’s doubles Rio 2016 bronze with new partner Lee Sohee.

Hendra Setiawan (Indonesia) could become the first badminton player in Olympic history to medal 13 years apart if he reaches the podium in Tokyo, as per the statement issued by BWF. Setiawan had won men’s doubles gold with the late Markis Kido, who died at 36 recently, at Beijing 2008.

“For the last 18 months, the world has battled a pandemic, and athletes have been affected like everyone else. But as we have gained the upper hand over the coronavirus thanks to the efforts of scientists, vaccine makers and frontline personnel, we are on the cusp of staging the Olympics,” BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer congratulated all Tokyo 2020 Olympians on their selection.

“This time, its significance goes far beyond sport. It stands as a beacon of hope for everyone struggling to get their lives back on track.

“Being part of an Olympics as a participant is a rare opportunity and an honour, and these memories will be with you for a lifetime. Regardless of whether you win a medal or not, you can tell future generations: ‘I was there!’,” he added.