PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal to spearhead Indian challenge at Sudirman Cup in China

In Badminton, India lost to Malaysia 2-3 in their opening Group-1D match of Sudirman Cup Mixed Team Championship at Nanning in China today.

Ace shuttler PV Sindhu in Women's Singles and the pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy in Mixed Doubles won their matches.

DOWNLOAD CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF FROM APP

However, Sameer Verma in Men's Singles, the duo of B. Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri in Men's Doubles and the team of Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy in Women's Doubles went down against the Malaysian shuttlers.

India will play 10-time champions China in a must-win tie tomorrow. Malaysia were thrashed by China in the opening game on Sunday.

The 13-member Indian team, seeded eighth this time, comprises of PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth and Ashwini Ponnappa among others.

Held every two years, the tournament features five matches in every round - Men and Women's Singles, Men and Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Twelve teams, divided into four groups, are taking part in the competition. Top two from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.