Ace badminton player, Saina Nehwal, wants to skip the Asia Team Championship slated to be held from February 6 to 11 at Alor Setar in Malaysia. Saina, who is currently playing at the Indonesia Masters, has written a letter to Badminton Association of India (BAI) to allow her to withdraw from the Asian event. Instead, she wants to utilize that period preparing for the All England Championship starting from March 14.
But BAI is unhappy with her decision. The organization is hesitant to send the Indian team to Malayasia without Saina. The officials are trying to convince her to play the event. “It is a critical tournament since it is a qualifier for Thomas and Uber Cup. If we don’t qualify we will be out of the World group, so we will have to field the best team,” BAI secretary Anup Narang told.
In a written communication, 
BAI has requested Saina Nehwal to reconsider her decision and revise her training schedule to accommodate the Asian Championship in her calendar. Anup Narang added, “I understand she has come out of an injury and she is preparing for All England but my only request to the players is that they can schedule their training program in such a way that they can play in these important events.”
As announced by BAI, the Indian women’s team comprises of P V Sindhu, Krishna Priya and Ruthvika Gaade along with Saina. The winner be decided on three singles and two doubles matches. Indian women’s team has reached the semifinals in the 2014 and 2016 editions of the Uber Cup.
