With Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty ruled out due to injury, the spotlight turns to India's formidable singles contingent at the Badminton Asia Championships.
In-form Lakshya Sen and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu are spearheading the country's ambitious campaign to end a 61-year wait for a singles gold at the prestigious continental event.
Former national champion Dinesh Khanna remains the only Indian to win men's singles gold, achieving the feat back in 1965. Lakshya Sen, fresh off a runner-up finish at the All England Championships, is determined to break that long drought. The 24-year-old from Almora opens his campaign against Hong Kong's Lee Cheuk-Yiu and enters the tournament brimming with confidence after a string of strong performances.
On the women's side, PV Sindhu returns after a disrupted European leg. The seasoned campaigner was stranded in Dubai en route to the All England Championships due to the conflict in West Asia, forcing her withdrawal. She skipped the Swiss Open to recover fully and will begin her title challenge against Malaysia's Wong Ling Ching. Her vast experience and fighting spirit make her a dangerous prospect for any opponent.
India's men's singles depth looks impressive. HS Prannoy, returning after recovering from a shoulder injury, faces a qualifier, while Kidambi Srikanth takes on Singapore's eighth seed Loh Kean Yew. US Open champion Ayush Shetty will test himself against China's fifth seed Li Shi Feng, adding further firepower to India's singles challenge.
The women's singles lineup is equally competitive, with Unnati Hooda facing Thailand's Supanida Katethong, Tanvi Sharma taking on Malaysia's K. Letshanaa, and Malvika Bansod clashing with Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan. These young talents bring hunger and fresh energy to the squad.
In doubles, promising pairs are stepping up. Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun, fresh from back-to-back titles at the 2025 Al Ain Masters Super 100 and Turkiye International Challenge, face top seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea. Other combinations in women's and mixed doubles will also be looking to make their mark.
With strong singles representation and motivated doubles units, India is geared up for a memorable campaign. The absence of Satwik-Chirag has only sharpened the focus on delivering a historic singles breakthrough.