Picture Credit: X
The Indian women’s team, led by two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, defeated Hong Kong on Friday, February 16 to enter the semifinals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024. With the win in the quarterfinals, the Indian women’s team also confirmed the nation their first-ever medal in the tournament.
The Indian ace shuttler, PV Sindhu began the proceedings as she registered a hard-fought 21-7, 16-21, 21-12 win over lower ranked Lo Sin Yan Happy of Hong Kong. Thereafter, the Indian doubles combination of Tanisha and Ponnappa then doubled the lead, getting past the World No. 18-ranked pair of Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam, 21-10, 21-14 in 35 minutes.
The quarterfinals tie was then wrapped up with Ashmita winning 21-12, 21-13 over Hong Kong’s Yeung Sum Yee, confirming a medal for India. The Indian women’s team will now face the winner of the quarterfinals, which is scheduled to be played between Japan and China, in the semifinals.
Earlier, the Indian women’s team stunned China 3-2 in the league match to finish at top place in their group on Wednesday, February 14.
India men’s team end on losing side after going down 2-3 against China
On the other hand, the Indian men’s badminton team put up a spirited performance against China but finished on the losing side with the scoreline reading 2-3, at the Badminton Asia Team Championships at Selangor, Malaysia on Thursday, February 15.
World No. 7 ranked HS Prannoy found his mojo to register a 6-21, 21-18, 21-19 win over Weng Hong Yang in an hour and 13 minutes. While the former World No. 1 pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were rested, MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila could not double the lead, despite putting a fighting performance and lost 21-15, 19-21, 21-19. Lakshya Sen then put India ahead with 21-11, 21-16 win over Lei Lan Xi but the doubles pair of fell short to help the side finish on the other side of the line.
