Report: India’s participation in Sudirman Cup 2023 confirmed after China clears players' visas

PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy will lead the Indian contingent in the prestigious tournament.

Days after reports emerged that India's participation in the Sudirman Cup 2023 in Suzhou, China, hangs in balance due to a delay in visas, it can now be confirmed that the team will take part in the prestigious tournament after their visas were cleared by the Chinese embassy in Delhi.

According to a report in the Times of India, the biometrics of the entire contingent were completed at the Chinese embassy on Monday with visas expected the following day. The report also states that the entire Indian contingent returned to Hyderabad from where they will leave for Bengaluru on Wednesday and board their flight to Shanghai on May 10 evening. The Sudirman Cup 2023 is scheduled from May 14-21.

India have named a 16-member squad for the tournament with two-time Olympics medallist PV Sindhu leading the charge. Men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who recently scripted history with gold at the Badminton Asia Championships, will be among the ones to watch out for.

The good news comes just a couple of days after reports of visa troubles for the Indian contingent just days before their scheduled flight to Shanghai. Reports stated that the Chinese embassy in China was delaying the visas despite several requests and follow up from the Indian side.

India qualified for the Sudirman Cup 2023 after winning a bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in February.

The Sudirman Cup is set to be held from May 14-21, 2023 in Suzhou, China. A total of 16 countries are set to take part in the team Championships held biennially. Top Indian shuttlers, including two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, WR 9 HS Prannoy, Badminton Asia Championships gold medallist Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, All England Championship 2022 semi-finalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are part of the 23-member Indian squad.

India is placed in Group C alongside heavyweights Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, and Australia. The 16 teams are spread across four groups with each group accompanying four teams. The top two teams from each group will make it to the quarter-finals stage.