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India’s challenge in the Women’s category at the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals ended as the PV Sindhu-led team crashed out after losing 0-3 to Thailand in the Quarterfinal. It started with PV Sindhu losing to World No.8 Ratchanok Intanon in 59 minutes. The doubles pair of Shruti Mishra and Simran Singhi also could not do much and lost in straight games.
The third challenger for India Women’s team, Aakarsh Kashyap also surrendered in straight games to Pornpawee Chochuwong. With India giving an unassailable lead to Thailand, the rest of the games were not played.
Coming to individual performances, doubly Olympic medalist PV Sindhu was off-colour for the second consecutive day as she squandered a one-game lead to go down 21-18, 17-21, 12-21 against Intanon in the first women's singles match. Earlier on Wednesday, Sindhu lost in straight games 15-21, 14-21 against world number four An Seyoung in India's final Group D match. With this loss to Intanon, Sindhu now trails 4-7 in head-to-head record against the Thai shuttler.
In the first women’s doubles game in the quarterfinals, Shruti Mishra and Simran Singhi looked clueless against the Thai pair of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai as they lost the match 16-21, 13-21 in 37 minutes. With the first two games lost, the onus was on young Aakarshi Kashyap to keep India afloat but the 20-year-old felt the pressure of playing against World No.10.
Kashyap was completely outclassed by Pornpawee Chochuwong in 42 minutes. The Thai shuttler took the first game 21-16. She then rode on the momentum and took the second game 21-11 and won the game eventually. Had Aakarshi won against Chochuwong, the Indian doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Treesa Jolly would have faced Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard, while Ashmita Chaliha would have played against Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
Nonetheless, with the women’s team out of the tournament, the hopes of a medal will be pinned on the Men’s team led by young Lakshya Sen. The Men’s team will be taking on Malaysia in their Quarterfinal game later on Thursday.