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Two-time Commonwealth Games champion Saina Nehwal has been included in the selection trials for the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023 to be held in Dubai from February 14 to 19.
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The Senior Selection Committee of the Badminton Association of India had a virtual meeting on 25 December in which players participating in the trials were selected to select the team for the Asian Championships. Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023 will be the third edition of the biennial event. The 2021 edition was to be held in Wuhan, China but was called off due to COVID-19.
"The members unanimously agreed that since it is a big competition with a limited number of entries, only BWF rankings from 16-50 should be considered for inviting players for the trials for the rest of the available spots."
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) said.
Meanwhile, the committee decided to give direct entry to singles players. They are Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, PV Sindhu and Satwik-Chirag pair on the basis of their world rankings. The remaining members of the fourteen-member team will be selected from the selection trials. The trial will be held on January 2 and 3 in New Delhi.
Apart from Saina, Malvika Bansod and Aakarshi Kashyap have been called for trials in women's singles. While in men's doubles, MR Arjun-Dhruv Kapila, Krishna Prasad Garga-Vishnuvardhan Goud P and Ishaan Bhatnagar/Sai Patheek are included.
On the other hand, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand, Ashwini Ponnappa-N Sikki Reddy, Ashwini Bhatt-Shikha Gautam and Haritha Manazhiyil-Ashna Roy have been selected for the trials for the two spots in women's doubles. A team will be selected in mixed doubles. Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto, Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Devangan and Rohan Kapoor and Sikki Reddy have been called for trials for the team.