Badminton Asia Team C'Ships: Youngsters steer India to final with 3-2 win over Japan - Highlights
Catch the highlights of the national women's team's 3-2 win against Japan in the semifinal of the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam, Malaysia, on Saturday.
Indian women doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand won their match against Japan in the semifnal.
The Indian women's badminton team created history on Saturday as it beat Japan 3-2 in the semifinal of the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam, Malaysia, to reach the final for the first time in the history of the prestigious tournament.
In the final, India will face Thailand, who defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the other semifinal.
The national women's team, who has already secured a place in the Uber Cup by reaching the semifinal of the tournament, banked on the youngsters to register a thrilling win over Japan.
India trailed 0-1 in the tie after PV Sindhu went down to Aya Ohori in straight games (13-21, 20-22) in the first match.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, however, registered a thrilling three-game (21-17, 16-21, 22-20) win over world no. 6 Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida to help India draw level in the tie.
Ashmita Chaliha, then, handed out experienced Japanese player Nozomi Okuhara a straight-game (21-17, 21-14) defeat.
With Sindhu forming a scratch pair with Ashwini Ponnappa in the absence of injured Tanisha Crasto, Japanese duo Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto did not find it hard to beat the Indian pair 21-14, 21-11.
Hence, in the deciding fifth match, the task fell on 17-year-old Anmol Kharb, who played just one match in the tournament against China, also in the deciding fifth match and won, showed her temperament and skills by taking down world no. 29 Natsuki Nidaira in straight games (21-14, 21-18).
Her win helped India reach the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships for the first time.
Catch highlights:
Anmol Kharb, what a player! What a beauty! She beats Natsuki Nidaira in straight games (21-14, 21-18) in the deciding fifth match.
India beats Japan 3-2 in the five-match tie and reaches the final of the tournament for the first time.
Sindhu loses her women's singles match and later women's doubles match pairing up with Ashwini. Treesa-Gayatri wins India's first women's doubles match and Ashmita Chaliha and Anmol Kharb clinch the women's singles matches to propel India.
Natsuki goes long, and Anmol is on match point at 20-18.
A point for the Japanese player, she still trails 18-19.
Natsuki's flick does not cross the net, Anmol celebrates the point with an iron fist. Se leads 18-17, and now 19-17.
Anmol has no answer to it. Natsuki trails 16-17.
Anmol extends her lead to 17-15, winning a rally. She makes a down-the-line finish.
Natsuki now trails just by one point at 15-16.
Again Anmol anticipates well and wins a point as Natsuki goes long. Anmol leads 16-13.
Natsuki follows it up with a point from the net. She charges and hits Anmol's face. Natsuki trails 14-16.
Natsuki wins three points in a row to break Anmol's four-point spree. Natsuki trails 13-15.