The Uber Cup, widely considered as a premier international women's event by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), is set to begin from April 24 and will run till May 3. With several countries participating globally, India has taken a blow recently with one of its leading pairs withdrawing.

The Badminton Association of India confirmed that Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will not participate in the tournament, as Jolly is sidelined with an ankle injury, leading to their replacement. Because of the same injury, the pair had already pulled out of the Badminton Asia Championships earlier this month.

The BAI Media posted on X (Twitter) confirming that India’s top women’s doubles pair, Jolly and Gopichand, have withdrawn from the Uber Cup squad, with Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam named as replacements.

Treesa and Gayatri have remained the top women's doubles pair for a while now, with the current ranking of world No. 30 and a career-high of No. 9. Their achievements include a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games, a gold medal in the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships, and, most recently, a semifinal run in the All England Open.

Indian doubles coach B. Sumeeth Reddy said, “Treesa sadly twisted her ankle just 2–3 days before leaving for the Badminton Asia Championships. It was an accident during training—she stepped on her partner’s foot,"

He also stated that it is a minor injury and will recover in "four weeks." However, the pair chosen by BAI to replace the leading pair is solid too.

Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam Step In for India

After the withdrawal, BAI took in Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam as the replacements for Treesa and Gayatri. They'll now be playing alongside Kavipriya Selvam, Simran Singhi, and Tanisha Crasto.

Mishra, alongside Kongengbam, in October 2023 earned a silver medal at the India International in Bengaluru, and a few months later, another silver medal at the National Badminton Championships. Next season, in 2024, they went on to win gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Selangor.

With Mishra and Konjengbam now confirmed as replacements, India's Uber Cup pair remains intact ahead of the tournament's April 24 start in Horsens, Denmark. The pair brings prior international experience and a top 40 women's doubles ranking to the team.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Rudra Dubey