The senior selection committee named them to pick the second women’s singles player who will join double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu in the squad for the Asian meet. However, Saina and Malvika both decided to skip the trials.
“Saina and Malvika have informed BAI about their unavailability for the trials. Hence, Ashmita Chaliha has been invited to the trials. There are few other pullouts as well,” a Badminton Association of India (BAI) source told PTI.
With both Saina and Malvika not available, it will be a fight between Aakarshi and Ashmita.
Saina endured a tough 2022, battling multiple injuries and a lack of form that saw her slump to world number 31.
The 32-year-old had skipped the selection trials for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in April last year to manage her workload after returning from three weeks of European events.
The selection committee has decided to give singles players Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, PV Sindhu, and men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Ranikreddy and Chirag Shetty direct entry into the squad based on their superior world rankings.
Read more: https://sports.ndtv.com/badminton/saina-nehwal-among-shuttlers-to-skip-bac-2023-trials-3655291
