Bronze or better...

Manila, February 14

The Indian men’s team assured themselves of a medal after progressing to the semifinals with a 3-2 win over Thailand at the Badminton Asia Team Championships.

After star shuttlers Kidambi Srikanth and B Sai Praneeth faced reversals in the first two singles ties, India fought back to win the next three ties to prevail in the quarterfinals and set up a last-4 meeting with two-time defending champions Indonesia.

The men’s team had last won the bronze in the 2016 edition after losing 1-3 to Indonesia in the semifinals in Hyderabad.

World Championships bronze medallist B Sai Praneeth started the proceedings, but his gallant effort ended in a 14-21 21-14 12-21 loss to world No. 12 Kantaphon Wangcharoen.

Former world No. 1 Srikanth then went down 20-22 14-21 to Kunlavut Vitidsarn, a three-time world junior champion.

The pairing of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila kept India in the hunt with a 21-18 22-20 win over Kittinupong Kedren and Tanupat Viriyangkura.

Young Lakshya Sen, who had a stellar run in 2019 with five titles, registered a 21-19 21-18 win over world No. 45 Suppanyu Avihingsanon to bring India back on level terms.

It all boiled down to the makeshift pair of Chirag Shetty and Srikanth and the Indians fought past Maneepong Jongjit and Nipitphon Phuangphuapet 21-15 16-21 21-15. “It is an incredible result for us considering the fact that we didn’t have Satwiksairaj (Rankireddy) and we generally depend on the singles to get us the win,” Shetty said. “But after we lost the first two singles, the way we got that doubles win and then Lakshya brought us back to level terms, it was a complete team effort,” he added.

Next up are Indonesia who boast of world No. 7 Jonathan Christie and world No. 5 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. They also have the world No. 1 pair of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo. — PTI

INDIA 3-2 THAILAND

• Kantaphon Wangcharoen bt B Sai Praneeth 21-14 14-21 21-12
• Kunlavut Vitidsarn bt K Srikanth 20-22 14-21
• Lakshya Sen bt Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-19 21-18
• MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila bt Kittinupong Kedren/Tanupat Viriyangkura 21-18 22-20
• Chirag Shetty/Srikanth bt Maneepong Jongjit/Nipitphon Phuangphuapet 21-15 16-21 21-15