Manraj Singh and Rakshita Sree to lead Indian contingent in Netherlands and German junior tournament

Badminton players Manraj Singh and Rakshita Sree S will lead a 19-member Indian contingent at the Dutch (Netherlands) Junior and German Junior International tournaments next month.

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The Dutch Junior International will start on March 1 in Haarlem while the German Junior International will start on March 8 in Berlin. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) conducted a four-day selection trial from January 24 to 27 in Greater Noida. The players were selected on the basis of this.

Meanwhile, India's Manraj Singh and Rakshita Sree will lead that event. 33rd-ranked player Manraj topped the men's singles event, followed by Ayush Shetty, Lokesh Reddy K, and Gagan. While budding shuttler Rakshita will lead the women's singles section along with Shreya Lele, Jiya Rawat, and Aalisha Naik.

"This is a good bunch of rising Indian shuttlers. They've been doing well at junior circuit and they have proved their mettle at selection trials as well to seal their place in the squad. All of them have potential to finish on the podium. I hope they do well at these events and more to come." BAI Secretary Sanjay Mishra said.

Women's doubles duo Vennala K.-Shreyanshi Valishetty who also represented India recently at Badminton Asia Junior Championships 2022 will be keen to put up impactful performances along with Vaishnavi Khadkekar-Sania Sikkandar. Whereas, Arulmurugan R.-Srinidhi N. alongside Sathwik Reddy K.-Vaishnavi Khadkekar is India's best bet in the mixed doubles category. Meanwhile, Bhavya Chhabra-Param Choudhary will shoulder the men's doubles responsibility with in-form Divyam Arora-Mayank Rana making it to the team as 2nd pair.

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Indian squad

Men's singles: Manraj Singh, Ayush Shetty, Lokesh Reddy K, Gagan

Women's singles: Rakshitha Sree S, Shreya Lele, Jiya Rawat, Aalisha Naik

Men's doubles: Bhavya Chhabra/Param Choudhary, Divyam Arora/Mayank Rana

Women's doubles: Vennala K./Shreyanshi Valishetty, Vaishnavi Khadkekar/Sania Sikkandar

Mixed doubles: Arulmurugan R./Srinidhi N., Sathwik Reddy K./Vaishnavi Khadkekar