Badminton Asia C’ships: The final step to 2024 Paris Olympics qualification begins in China

The 41st edition of the Badminton Asia Championships commenced on Tuesday with the qualification rounds in Ningbo, China. Five out of six Indians in action in the qualification rounds have made it to the main draw, which starts on Wednesday.

The continental event holds a special significance this year for Indians as it is the last qualification competition for the 2024 Paris Olympics cycle. The qualification list for the quadrennial event will be officially published on April 30.

With the Badminton Asia Championships being equivalent to a World Tour Super 1000 event, there is naturally a lot at stake for those still vying for their berth at the Paris Games.

Ponnappa-Crasto, Treesa-Gayatri in the spotlight

As far as India is concerned, the focus will be on the women’s doubles section where the pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto are on the cusp of making it through to Paris, even though Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are not completely out of the race either.

Both the Indian women’s doubles pairs will have their task cut out in Ningbo however.

Treesa and Gayatri, who desperately need a title win to upstage their compatriots in the Race to Paris Rankings, will open their campaign against the fourth seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning...

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