Disappointment for badminton team
Jakarta, Aug. 20: India’s hopes of winning a medal in badminton team events at the 18th Asian Games went up in smoke after both the men’s and women’s sides bowed out of the competition following an identical 1- 3 loss in the quarterfinals here on Monday.
Olympic silver medallist P. V. Sindhu and H. S. Prannoy shone bright but India couldn’t get enough support from the rest of the shuttlers as they lost to Japan and Indonesia in the women’s and men’s team events respectively.
After the women’s team went down 1- 3 to top seeds Japan earlier in the day, the men’s team put up a spirited effort before losing 1- 3 to hosts Indonesia.
The onus was on World No. 8 Kidambi Srikanth to give India an early lead but he lost 21- 23, 22- 20, 1021 to Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, ranked 12th, to concede a 0- 1 lead to Indonesia.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty then put up a gallant fight before going down 21- 19, 19- 21, 1621 to World N. o 1 combination of Kevin Sukamuljo & Fernaldi Gideon.
World No. 11 Prannoy then brought some cheers back in the Indian camp by reducing the deficit with a 21- 15, 19- 21, 21- 19 win over Jonathan Christie in the third match.
But national champions Manu Attri & B. Sumeeth Reddy lost 14- 21, 18- 21 to World No. 9 Fajar Alfian & Muhammad Rian Ardianto as the men’s team crashed out. Sanjaya Marcus
Earlier in the day, the Indian women’s team, which won a historic bronze in the last edition in I n c h e o n , also lost in the quarterfinals to top s e e d s Japan.
It was always going to be a close affair between Sindhu and World No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi but the Indian prevailed in the tight opening singles encounter 21- 18, 21- 19.
Sindhu had also beaten Yamaguchi at the recent World Championship on way to the final.
N. Sikki Reddy & Arathi Sunil then struggled to contain unforced errors and lost tamely 15- 21, 6- 21 to Yuki Fukushima & Sayaka Hirota, allowing the Japanese to level the tie.
In the crucial second women’s singles, Saina Nehwal made a dramatic comeback from nowhere and saved four match points in the second game to take the match into the decider, but she eventually lost 11- 21, 25- 23, 16- 21 after battling for one hour and 11 minutes against Nozomi Okuhara.
Saina initially struggled to contain her unforced errors while Okuhara was disciplined. The Indian hit almost everything either over the line or on to the net but made a stunning comeback in the second game.
She, though, could not take advantage of the momentum and lost five points in a row from 16- 16 in the decider to lose the match.
In the must- win fourth rubber, Sindhu paired up with Ashwini Ponappa but the duo lost 13- 21, 12- 21 to reigning Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo & Ayaka Takahashi.
“It was a tough draw facing Japan in the first match. I was keen to give India a good start from my side. The doubles players also did well but the Japanese played very tactical game. Saina also gave her 100 per cent, it was 1616 in the third set and few points made the difference,” Sindhu said. — PTI