Sudirman Cup 2025: Massive blow for India as Satwik-Chirag ruled out of event, with BAI not naming any replacement

The Indian badminton team suffered a major blow ahead of the 2025 Sudirman Cup with ace men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty ruled out of the tournament due to sickness. The development was confirmed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Monday, six days before the 19th edition of the biennial mixed team event is to get underway in Xiamen, China.

Satwik and Chirag had been included in a 14-strong Indian squad for the upcoming event alongside former world champion and two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu as well as World Championships medallists Lakshya Sen and HS Prannoy.

The BAI has not named any replacements for Satwik and Chirag, leaving India with 12 players in the tournament that has been dominated by China and South Korea since its inception in 1989.

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The duo had won a historic gold medal at the Asian Games in October 2023, a little over a year after winning bronze at the World Championships. They had also helped India win a maiden gold medal at the Thomas Cup in 2022.

Satwik and Chirag, however, endured a disappointing run at the Paris Olympics last year, arriving in the French capital as medal favourites only to bow out in the quarter-finals after losing to Malaysia's Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.

India are also without top women’s doubles duo Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, who have been ruled out due to injury, in the upcoming tournament where they have been placed in a tough group alongside Indonesia, Denmark and England.

The BAI has included Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra in Gayatri and Treesa's absence.

Updated Indian Squad for 2025 Sudirman Cup:

Men: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Hariharan Amsakarunan, Ruban Kumar R, Dhruv Kapila, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran

Women: PV Sindhu, Anupama Upadhyaya, Tanisha Crasto, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, Aadya Variyath