Latest Trending News
India's Women's Badminton Team Clinches Thrilling Semifinal, Advances to Historic Final at Badminton Asia Team Championships

India’s Women’s Badminton Team Clinches Thrilling Semifinal, Advances to Historic Final at Badminton Asia Team Championships

 

New Delhi:  In a nail-biting encounter, India’s women’s badminton team secured a historic spot in the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships, overcoming two-time former champions Japan with a thrilling 3-2 victory in the semifinals held in Malaysia on Saturday.

The Indian contingent, on a dream run, advanced to their first-ever final in the tournament, showcasing exceptional prowess against a formidable Japanese side. The absence of key players like world No. 4 Akane Yamaguchi and the world No. 7 pair of Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota did not diminish Japan’s competitiveness, making it a challenging battle for India.

The World No. 23 duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand played a crucial role in the victory, delivering a stellar performance in the first doubles. They outclassed the world No. 6 pair of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida with a 21-17, 16-21, 22-20 victory in a thrilling 73-minute contest, leveling the score at 1-1.

Despite a setback in the first singles, where returning star P. V. Sindhu fell to Aya Ohori with a scoreline of 13-21, 20-22, India bounced back in the second singles. World No. 53 Ashmita Chaliha displayed remarkable skills against former world champion Nozomi Okuhara, securing a surprising 21-17, 21-14 win and giving India a 2-1 lead.

The pairing of Sindhu and Ashwini Ponnappa faced challenges against the world No. 11 Japanese pair of Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto, succumbing to a 14-21, 11-21 defeat in 43 minutes, leveling the overall score at 2-2.

In the decisive fifth match, the 17-year-old Anmol Kharb emerged as the hero for India, defeating world No. 29 Natsuki Nidaira with a scoreline of 21-14, 21-18 in 52 minutes. This victory secured India’s place in the final against Thailand on Sunday, keeping alive the hope of clinching their first-ever gold in the continental championship. Notably, India had previously won bronze medals in the men’s team event in the 2016 and 2020 editions.

Comments are closed.