Indian women’s team enter Uber Cup quarters with victory over US, Axelsen wins

The victory, coupled with their 4-1 win over Canada on Sunday, ensured India a top-two finish in the Uber Cup Group D and in extension, a berth in the top-eight. India and South Korea will meet on Wednesday to setle the group winners

The Indian women’s badminton team sealed their place in the Uber Cup 2022 quarter-finals ater registering a 4-1 win over US in their Group D tie in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu got the ball rolling for India, beating the 95th ranked Jennie Gai 21-10, 21-11 in the first singles clash.

The Indian shutler dominated the match right from the beginning and raced to 16-4 lead in the first game. There was no looking back from there on for Sindhu as the world No. 7 sealed off the contest with ease in 26 minutes.

Thereater, Tanisha Crasto and Treesa Jolly doubled India’s advantage with a solid 21-19, 21-10 victory over Francesca Corbet and Allison Lee. The Indian duo was trailing 5-11 in the opening game but produced a fine comeback to take the lead.

The second game was a much more straightforward affair as Crasto and Jolly cruised to a 12-0 lead before closing the match off in 34 minutes.

Aakarshi Kashyap then confirmed the tie for India with a 21-18, 21-11 win over Esther Shi.

Lauren Lam and Kodi Tang Lee pulled a point back for Team USA, edging out Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker 12-21, 21-17, 13-21 in the second doubles match of the tie.

However, youngster Ashmita Chaliha completed the 4-1 scoreline for India ater accounting for Natalie Chi 21-18, 21-13 in the final rubber of the day.

The victory on Tuesday, coupled with their 4-1 win over Canada on Sunday, ensured India a top-two finish along with South Korea in the Uber Cup Group D and in extension, a berth in the top-eight. India and Korea will meet on Wednesday to setle the group winners.

Earlier, the Indian men’s team had secured their quarters berth in the Thomas Cup and will also be in action on Wednesday for their final Group C encounter against Chinese Taipei.

Notably, both the Indian men’s and women’s teams were ousted in the quarterfinals of the Thomas and Uber Cup 2020 held last year.

AXELSEN, MOMOTA TRIUMPH: Heavyweights Viktor Axelsen and Kento Momota both won their matches. The men’s Thomas Cup and women’s Uber Cup see the world’s top nations compete in Bangkok’s Impact Arena.

World number two Momota, who suffered a shock early exit from the Asia Championships last month, looked to be geting back into form with his 21-18, 21-11 victory over England’s Toby Penty.

The 27-year-old Japanese player said he was “nervous but excited” before the match, his first this tournament, but that ater the first game he setled into the competition and was able to beter dominate the second.

Japan ended the overall bout against the English the victors, 5-0.

Elsewhere, Axelsen defeated France’s Toma Junior Popov 21-8, 21-11, with the Danes’ 5-0 win over the French clearing the way for their clash with China tomorrow.

Perhaps smarting from the women’s early exit Monday, it was a beter day for the Malaysian men’s team, with the squad defeating the United States for the second Group D tie.

Malaysia will now take on Japan in the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere Japan’s women, having nimbly dealt with the French threat 5-0, will meet Indonesia Wednesday to decide the Group A winners.

Earlier, reigning champions China faced an unexpected challenge from the young French team on the second day.

French challenger Christo Popov made China’s Lu Guang Zu pay for every shot before the world number 25 wrested a win 25-23, 24-26, 21-15 in a match that lasted just under two hours.