Uber Cup Live Updates: In a big blow to India, rising Indian doubles player Gayatri Gopichand has pulled out of the upcoming Uber Cup Finals after being advised to recover from a strain in hip joints. Gayatri’s pullout has weakened India women’s doubles team even further as already Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy withdrew after the latter suffered an abdomen injury. Follow InsideSport.IN for more updates.
Uber Cup Live Updates: Blow for India as Gayatri Gopichand pulls out of Uber Cup finals due to hip strain
19-year old Gayatri Gopichand, who plays alongside Treesa Jolly, has been in fine form this year. The duo produced series of impressive performance in the international circuit. They became the first Indian doubles pair to reach the semifinals at the All England Championship this year.
The duo qualified for the Uber Cup finals after finishing on top at the BAI Selection Trials in women’s doubles. Gayatri skipped the Asian Badminton Championships last week due to the injury but she was expeted to be fit by the time the Thoma & Uber Cup begins on Sunday. However, her withdrawal was confirmed by BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra on Thursday.
Uber Cup Live Updates: Blow for India as Gayatri Gopichand pulls out of Uber Cup finals due to hip strain
While BAI has already named a replacement for Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy by including Simran Singh and Ritika Thakkar, who finished fourth in the BAI Selection Trials, in the squad, no replacement could be named for Gayatri as her withdrawal came after the deadline for making any changes to the squad. Gayatri’s partner Treesa, has already left for Bangkok along with the team on Wednesday.
Indian women’s team are placed in Group D alongside South Korea, Canada and United States in the upcoming tournament. The singles team comprise PV Sindhu, Aakarshi Kashyap, Ashmitha Chaliha and 14-year old Unnati Hooda. While the Doubles team includes Treesa Jolly, Tanisha Crasto, Shruti Mishra, Simran Singh and Ritika Thakkar.
Uber Cup Live Updates: Blow for India as Gayatri Gopichand pulls out of Uber Cup finals due to hip strain
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