Saina Nehwal to skip trials for Asian Mixed Team C'ships

NEW DELHI: Two-time Commonwealth Games champion Saina Nehwal is among shuttlers who will be skipping the national badminton trials for the Asian Mixed Team Championships, to be held in Dubai from February 14 to 19.

Former world number 1 Saina was named along with Aakarshi Kashyap and Malvika Bansod for the trials. The senior selection committee named them to pick the second women's singles player who will join double Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu in the squad for the Asian meet.

However, Saina and Malvika both have decided to skip the trials.

With both Saina and Malvika not available, it will be a fight between Aakarshi and Ashmita.

Saina endured a tough 2022, battling multiple injuries and a lack of form that saw her slump to world number 31.

The 32-year-old had skipped the selection trials for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in April last year to manage her workload after returning from three weeks of European events.

The selection committee has decided to give singles players Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Sindhu and men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Ranikreddy and Chirag Shetty direct entry into the squad based on their superior world rankings. Agencies

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