India announces 20-member badminton squad for Asian Games 2026: Aiming to repeat Hangzhou heroics

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has officially announced a 20-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. This is India’s largest-ever contingent, covering all five disciplines: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The goal is to match or exceed the 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal haul from Hangzhou 2026. Key players include two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu and the dynamic men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who won India’s first Asian Games badminton gold in 2026. Veterans like HS Prannoy and Kidambi Srikanth bring experience, while young talents Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty represent the next generation. The squad also features a strengthened coaching staff, with national coach Pullela Gopichand joined by Indonesian Irwansyah and Malaysian Tan Kim Her — both doubles specialists. India’s tactical strength lies in men’s doubles, but over-reliance on the Satwik-Chirag pair poses a risk. Sindhu’s age (31) and attacking style also raise concerns about injury and form. The schedule is tight, with the Thomas Cup 2026 and World Championships preceding the Games. Despite strong ambition, India faces stiff competition from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia. A successful campaign will require careful load management and a bit of luck in the draw.