Commonwealth Games gold medallist PV Sindhu will lead a strong Indian contingent in the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships, to be played in Dubai.

Hosts UAE will start their campaign against Malaysia in Group B while PV Sindhu-led Indian team will lock horns with Kazakhstan as the schedule for the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship, which will be held in Dubai from February 14 to February 19, was released on Sunday.

Taking place under the patronage of Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, the event will be contested by 17 teams with some of the top names in the badminton world including Olympic medallists to lead their respective teams.

The opening day will witness top teams including defending champions China starting their campaigns in their respective groups (round-robin ties) at the Expo City-Dubai Exhibition Centre which will stage six days of intense badminton action.

China will open against Uzbekistan in Group A, while other top seeded teams Japan (Group D) and Indonesia (Group C) take on Pakistan and Syria in their opening ties.

While three of the groups (A, B, D) will witness a team playing three ties each, the Group C will have its teams playing four ties each before two teams advance to the quarter-finals.

Top two teams from each of the four groups will make it to the knockout stage, which begins on Day 4 of the championship after the draw.

The semi-finals will be played on Saturday while the finals are set to take place on Sunday, February 19.

“We are very delighted to announce the schedule for the Dubai 2023 edition of Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship. All the top teams will be in action right from day one. For the local fans, there will be a lot on offer to cheer for and not just their home team playing but to watch their favourite international stars,” said Dr. Sathya Menon, CEO of Beyond Boundaries, the local organisers for the event.

The UAE Badminton Federation also expressed their excitement, as a young and energetic home team gets ready to start their campaign at the prestigious championship.

“Our players are thrilled to open their campaign. I wish all the very best to Team UAE and all the participating teams,” said UAE Badminton Federation president Noura Aljasmi.

This is the first time the UAE is hosting the Badminton Asia Championship, which holds great significance as it acts as the qualifying window to the 2024 Paris Olympics Games. The event also gives players the opportunity to qualify for important badminton championships like Sudirman Cup, Thomas and Uber Cups.