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.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will open their campaign at the Denmark Open Super 750 on October 16, 2024. (FILE PHOTO: BadmintonPhoto/BWF)
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 2:01 AM GMT
1st match: PV Sindhu vs Aya Ohori
PV Sindhu takes on world no. 14 Aya Ohori in the first match of India's semifinal clash against Japan. Sindhu has won all her previous 13 meetings against Ohori.
This is going to be a good contest between right-handed Sindhu and southpaw Ohori.
- 17 Feb 2024 1:33 AM GMT
Order of Play
Sindhu, leading from the front, will look to give India a lead when she takes on Aya Ohori. Sindhu enjoys a clean sheet against Ohori as she won all 13 of their previous meetings.
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will go up next against the world no. 6 pairing of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida.
Ashmita Chaliha will have her task cut out against former world champion Nozomi Okuhara in the third match of the tie.
In the fourth match, Sindhu will form a scratch pair with Ashwini Ponnappa to take on Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto.
In the fifth and final match, youngster Anmol Kharb will play Natsuki Nidaira, ranked world no. 29.
All the matches will take place at Court 2.
- 17 Feb 2024 1:27 AM GMT
Hello and welcome
The Indian women's team, which has been unbeaten so far in the Badminton Asia Team Championships with wins over China and Hong Kong, will look to clinch a spot in the final today when the Indian shuttlers go up against their Japanese counterparts.
The tie starts at 7:30 AM Indian Standard Time.
