Badminton
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.
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:
Live Updates
- 17 Feb 2024 6:39 AM GMT
2nd Game: Anmol's deft placement
Natsuki squats as Anmol wins a brilliant point with a deft placement. Anmol leads 15-10.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:38 AM GMT
2nd Game: Brilliant judgement by Anmol
Anmol again shows her brilliant judgement as Natsuki goes long. Anmol leads 14-10.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:37 AM GMT
2nd Game: Natsuki's return finds the net again
Anmol extends her lead to 13-10.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:36 AM GMT
2nd Game: Anmol wins a rally
Natsuki's smash hits the net and Anmol wins a point to extend her lead to 12-10.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:35 AM GMT
2nd Game: Natsuki's down-the-line smash
Anmol has no chance as Natsuki trails 10-11.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:34 AM GMT
2nd Game: Anmol retains 11-9 lead at the interval
Natsuki's smash goes wide and Anmol retains an 11-9 lead at the interval.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:33 AM GMT
2nd Game: Natsuki smashes
Natsuki wins a point as Anmol hits the net, she follows it up with a smash to make it 8-10. Natsuki wins yet another point to reduce the gap. She trails 9-10 now.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:32 AM GMT
2nd Game: Amol's picture perfect rear court toss
She gains a 10-6 lead in the second game.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:31 AM GMT
2nd Game: Anmol's angled return
Anmol's angled return sees Natsuki dancing to her style of game. Anmol's placement falls in just at the edge of Natsuki's court.
Anmol leads 9-6.
- 17 Feb 2024 6:30 AM GMT
2nd Game: Anmol's brilliant judgement
Anmol allows Natsuki's toss go long, and she takes an 8-6 lead.