Indian badminton stars, led by former world champion PV Sindhu, have officially secured their spots at the Paris Olympics across four events, solidifying their presence on badminton’s grandest stage.
PV Sindhu, along with top men’s singles contenders HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen, had already clinched their coveted Olympic berths. The final confirmation came on Monday, marking the culmination of a rigorous qualification process outlined by the Badminton International Federation.
As per the qualification criteria, the top 16 players in both men’s and women’s singles, determined by the Olympic Games qualification rankings on the stipulated cut-off date, earn direct qualification to the Olympics. Sindhu, a former world champion and Olympic medalist, comfortably sits at the 12th position, while Prannoy and Lakshya occupy the 9th and 13th spots, respectively.
The men’s doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty also stamped their authority, securing a commendable third-place finish in the Olympic qualification cycle. With their impressive form, they emerge as India’s prime medal prospects in badminton at the upcoming Olympics.
In the women’s doubles category, Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa sealed their Olympic tickets by claiming the 13th spot in the qualifying rankings. However, the hopes of Trisa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand for Olympic qualification were dashed, as they fell short in the qualification race.
With the stage set and the Indian contingent locked in for Paris, anticipation builds as these talented shuttlers gear up to showcase their prowess and compete for glory on the Olympic stage.
