NAGPUR: A day after achieving their target to be in the 'top four' of women's doubles in the country, the Maharashtra duo of Ritika Thaker and Simran Singhi sealed their maiden India berth on Thursday. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced the squads after selection trials for the major events this year, including the Commonwealth and Asian Games, Thomas and Uber Cup.
While the top-three finishers of the BAI trials in the women's doubles category were included in the squad for the 29th Uber Cup scheduled in Bangkok from May 8-15, Ritika and Simran made it to the squad after an injured Sikki Reddy N pulled out citing injury in abdominal muscles. Sikki's injury forced the second-best Indian pair of her and Ashwini Ponnappa to withdraw their participation.