Badminton
Syed Modi India International: Ashwini/Tanisha loses in women’s doubles final
Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto lost a 77-minute thriller against Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi of Japan in the final of Syed Modi India International.
Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa made a runner-up finish at the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow (Source: BAI)
It was heartbreak for the Indian badminton fans as the women's doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Tanisha Crasto lost in the final of Syed Modi India International on Sunday.
The only Indians remain in contention for the title in the BWF Super 300 tournament, Ashwini and Tanisha fought valiantly before losing 14-21 21-17 15-21 against third-seeded Japanese pair of Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi in a 77-minute clash in the women's doubles final.
The seventh-seeded Indian pair made a prolific start but couldn't sustain the pressure in the opening game.
Tanisha was strong in the front court and produced some precise placements in the opening game, where the Indian pair had a lead of 7-4.
Despite the Indians leading at the mid-game break with Ashwini’s smashes earning the Indian pair crucial points, the Japanese duo stayed in the fight and capitalised on the unforced errors after the interval.
The Japanese pair soon raced to a lead of 18-12 and eventually closed the game at 21-14.
Ashwini, 34, and 20-year-old Tanisha, who started playing together only in January this year, roared back into the contest after winning the second game.
The Indian pair put up an improved show and quickly broke away to a lead of 6-3.
The home shuttlers tried to target the Japanese shuttlers' bodies and used flick serve, but Tanisha's poor reach on the sidelines and her serves being declared 'too high' helped Rin and Kie to close the gap at 7-8.
Yet, the Indians managed to eke out an 11-9 lead at the interval.
Ashwini’s smash and her flat serves saw the Indians extending their lead to 16-11. The Indian duo eventually forced the decider by winning the second game 21-17.
In the deciding third game, Rin and Kie came out all cylinders blazing, zooming to 8-1 in a jiffy. However, the Indians fought back to squeeze the gap to 13-15 before the world no. 15 Japanese marched ahead to secure the game 21-15 and the Syed Modi India International title.
The Indian duo won the Abu Dhabi Masters Super 100 title earlier in the year. Though they missed their maiden World Tour title on their first appearance in the final, this runner-up finish will motivate them to do better in future.
