2 min readMumbaiUpdated: Apr 24, 2026 01:49 PM IST
Cometh the Uber Cup, and the questions erupt on why PV Sindhu gets suddenly drafted into playing doubles. With Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand not available after Treesa freakishly injured herself, India were once again forced into shuffling their resources and using their MVP to try tilt a match order that might help Indians against Denmark.
Sindhu will play with Tanisha Crasto against Alexandra Boje, ranked No 7 in mixed doubles and Christine Busch, No 19 again in mixed.
Knowing that it was the singles where Indians stand their best chance against Denmark, India needed to stack up all 3 singles within the first 4 matches. The only way to get that order WS1, WS2, WD1, WS3, WD2 was to draft Sindhu in as second doubles, so the WD2 can be pushed to the fifth rubber. Rules dictate that for team members playing both singles and doubles, an adequate break is necessary.
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So if Sindhu (WR 13) takes on Line Christophersen (ranked 21) in first singles WS1, she cannot slot in at fourth rubber like the normal match order says – WS1, WD1, WS2, WD2, WS3. So to invert the fourth and fifth match order, Sindhu will now play the last match, second doubles with Tanisha Crasto.
Unnati Hooda is assigned to play second singles against Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt, followed by Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra taking on Amalie Cecile-Mette Werge, while Tanvi Sharma gets to seal the tie against Amalie Schulz, assuming Sindhu and Unnati get the job done. 2-2 could put pressure on Tanvi though, so she’s better off playing the fourth match, knowing Tanisha Crasto can be depended upon to bring her energy and guts to the last match, with Sindhu’s formidable presence.
India in fact fielded Saina-Sindhu pairing often when winning their two Uber Cup bronzes.
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Denmark’s two doubles are considered stronger in matchups, though they are mostly scratch pairs and crossed over from mixed doubles. Kudsk is mixed doubles, ranked 30, pairing with women’s doubles No 54, and Shruti-Priya can fancy their chances as a regular pairing.
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