Shuttlers go down fighting to Singapore

Hong Kong, March 20 

HS Prannoy and the men’s doubles pair of MR Arjun and Shlok Ramchandran put up superb performances but could not stop Singapore from registering a narrow 3-2 win over India in a Group B match of the Asia Mixed Team Championships here today.

India did not have a good start to the five-match tie as the mixed doubles pair of Arjun and Rutaparna Panda lost 21-16 21-13 to Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Tan Wei Han in the opener.

However, Prannoy brought India back in the contest, securing a 21-8 12-21 21-17 win over Thailand Masters winner Kean Yew Loh in the men’s singles competition.

Arjun and Shlok put India ahead with a 21-16 21-18 win over Loh Kean Hean and Chrisnanta. The onus to wrap up the tie was on the young shoulders of Assam’s Ashmita Chaliha. The National Championships bronze medallist fought bravely before going down 17-21 21-12 21-16 to world No. 32 Yeo Jia Min. 

In the final rubber, the women’s doubles pair of Arathi Sara Sunil and Rutaparna lost to Putri Sari Dewi Citra and Lim Ming Hui 22-24 21-15 21-16.

India are placed at the bottom of Group B, trailing Chinese Taipei and Singapore. India next take on Chinese Taipei on Thursday. — PTI