Thomas and Uber Cup 2021 Live stream, Top players, Group Preview, Prediction and India’s chances

Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal

The Thomas and Uber Cup 2021 is all set to get underway in Aarhus, Denmark from October 9. Having been postponed owing to the raging pandemic, the marquee tournament is back, BWF’s second tournament following the Tokyo Olympics. With the Olympic Games done and dusted all eyes are on the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals as the new Olympic cycle gains momentum.

A total of 16 teams will be featuring in the tournament and are divided into four groups. Each tie at the Thomas and Uber Cup comprises three singles and two doubles matches. The first team to win three of the five matches claims the tie. The top two countries from each group qualify for the knockout stage.

Team India Preview

B Sai Praneeth, Kadambi Srikanth, Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy

Team India, who are coming off a forgettable outing in the Sudirman Cup will be looking to redeem themselves. The addition of former World number one Saina Nehwal and the ace duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has bolstered the side. India is India are placed in Group C with defending champions China, the Netherlands and Tahiti in the Thomas Cup.

While the Asian powerhouse is drawn with Scotland, Spain and Thailand in Group B in the Uber Cup, the women’s event. While the women’s team will begin its campaign against Spain, the men will be up against the Netherlands in their opening tie. The women’s team has won bronze twice, in 2014 and 2016, but it will be an uphill task this time, especially without the services of double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu.

The men’s team has not reached the knockout stage in the last 11 years. And with the defending champions China being the only real threat in the group, the men will be fancying their chances this time around.

Indian badminton squad for Thomas and Uber Cup 2021

Our shuttlers having a first go at Ceres Arena, Aarhus 🇩🇰 ahead of #ThomasUberCup2021 🏸

📸: @Shettychirag04 #IndiaontheRise #Badminton pic.twitter.com/ldmahLGFsg
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) October 7, 2021

Thomas Cup: B Sai Praneeth, Kidambi Srikanth, Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Kiran George, Sameer Verma, Dhruv Kapila, M.R. Arjun, Krishna Prasad Garaga and Vishnu Vardhan.

Uber Cup: Saina Nehwal, Malvika Bansod, Aditi Bhatt, Tanisha Crasto, Treesa Jolly, Tasnim Mir, Rutuparna Panda, Ashwini Ponnappa, N. Sikki Reddy, Gayatri Gopichand.

India’s Thomas and Uber Cup 2021 Schedule

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

Thomas Cup

Sunday, October 10 – India vs Netherlands – 10:30 PM IST

Tuesday, October 12 – India vs Tahiti – 10:30 PM IST

Thursday, October 14 – India vs China – 12:00 PM IST

Uber Cup

Sunday, October 10 – India vs Spain – 12:00 PM IST

Tuesday, October 12 – India vs Scotland – 12:00 PM IST

Wednesday, October 13 – India vs Thailand – 12:00 PM IST