Asia Team c’ships: Sindhu, India grab headlines with 3-2 win over China

PTI

Shah Alam (Malaysia), Feb14

Two-time Olympics medallist PV Sindhu made a winning return from a lengthy injury layoff as India stunned formidable China 3-2 in the women’s competition of the Badminton Asia Team Championships here today.

With just two teams in Group W, India were assured of a knockout round berth even before their opening match but the team made its mark in style with the shock win over the top-seeded Chinese side.

The Indian men’s team, which lifted the Thomas Cup in 2022 and secured a first-ever silver medal at the last year’s Asian Games, registered a dominating 4-1 win over Hong Kong to qualify for the knockout round from Group A. Hong Kong had lost 0-5 to China on Tuesday.

The men will take on top seeds China tomorrow to decide the group winners in the men’s section.

World No. 11 Sindhu, who was out since October last year due to a knee injury, led the way as she beat world No. 8 Han Yue 21-17 21-15 in 40 minutes to give India the lead.

The pair of Tanisha Castro and Ashwini Ponnappa then lost to Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 19-21 16-21 followed by Ashmita Chaliha’s 13-21 15-21 loss to world No. 9 Wang Zhi Yi, as India trailed 1-2 after three matches.

India were on level terms when Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand beat the Chinese duo of Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min 10-21 21-18 21-17 in the women’s doubles.

In the deciding match against the second-string Chinese outfit, Anmol Kharb punched above her weight as the 472nd-ranked Indian emerged 22-20 14-21 21-18 winner over world No. 149 Wu Luo Yu in a gruelling one hour and 17 minutes contest for a memorable win.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side, HS Prannoy lost the first singles to Ng Ka Long Angus 18-21 14-21 but that turned out to be the only blip for India who won the next four matches.

The world No. 1 men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were ruthless in their 33-minute 21-16 21-11 win over Lui Chun Wai and Yeung Shing Choi before Lakshya Sen easily beat Chan Yin Chak 21-14 21-9 to give India the lead. MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila made it 3-1 the tie with a 21-12 21-7 win over Chow Hin Long and Hung Kuei Chun.

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