HYDERABAD: India men will focus on winning the elusive medal while the depleted women's squad may find the going tough at the Thomas and Uber Cup, which will kick-off in Bangkok on Sunday.
So far, only the women had won two bronze medals when they lost in the semifinals of the Uber Cup in 2014 and 2016. However, the men had never reached the semifinals of the Thomas Cup so far. But all that may change this year as the squad boasts of Lakshya Sen, K Srikanth and HS Prannoy in singles and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in doubles.
Each team has to play three singles and two doubles matches. With Lakshya, Srikanth, Prannoy and Satwik-Chirag in its ranks, India is a formidable outfit in this edition. The men are in Group C along with Canada, Chinese Taipei and Germany. In all, sixteen teams are in four groups and two from each group will make it to the knockouts.
In all likelihood, India and Chinese Taipei are expected to reach the knockouts from Group C. If the Indian team manages to top this group there is a chance of facing an easy rival in the quarters and can win a medal by reaching the semifinals. Indian men begin against Germany on Sunday, face Canada on Monday and Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.
PV Sindhu leads the Indian challenge in the Uber Cup. With two other singles players -- Akarshi Kashyap and 14-year-old Unntai Hooda -- lacking experience the onus is on Sindhu to lift the Indian team. The pullouts of doubles teams of Ashwini Ponnappa-Sikki Reddy, Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly makes the job tougher for women. Both Sikki and Gayatri were injured but Treesa travelled with the team and the Indian management may try her with Sindhu.
India women are clubbed with South Korea, Canada and United States in Group D. India will be looking to beat Canada and USA at the group stage as it would be very difficult to get past South Korea.
