India’s pursuit in the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Qingdao, China, concluded on February 6 as both the men’s and women’s teams suffered defeat in the quarterfinal matches. The men were defeated 3-1 by Korea, while the women lost 3-0 to the favourites, China.
Having advanced as runners-up in Group C behind Japan, the Indian men’s team relied on their singles players in the absence of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Lakshya Sen. Their strategy appeared effective when Ayush Shetty secured three match points against Yoo Tae Bin in the deciding first singles match. However, Shetty was unable to convert these opportunities and, after an intense 1 hour 24 minute battle, lost 18-21, 21-14, 24-26. According to a Badminton Association of India press release, Shetty also saved three match points but could not ultimately prevail.
Korea then increased their lead as Song Hyun Cho and Kim Won Ho defeated the Indian pairs combination of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Chirag Shetty 21-11, 21-13. Former world number one Kidambi Srikanth kept India’s hopes alive with a 21-15, 21-16 victory over Choi Ji Hoon, but Korea secured the tie with a 21-11, 21-16 win by Jin Yong and Ki Dong Ju against Pruthvi K Roy and K Sai Pratheek in the second doubles.
In the women’s quarterfinal, defending champions India confronted a strong Chinese team without PV Sindhu. World number 10 Gao Fang Jie opened the match with a 21-9, 21-9 win against Tanvi Sharma.
India’s leading doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand challenged the world number four combination of Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian, reaching game point in the first set before losing 22-24, 18-21. Rakshita Sree briefly raised hopes by winning the first game against Xu Wen Jing but was unable to maintain the momentum, ultimately losing 21-14, 15-21, 17-21.
Results:
Women: India lost to China 0-3
(Tanvi Sharma lost to Gao Fang Jie 9-21, 9-21;
Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand lost to Jia Yi Fan/Zhang Shu Xian 22-24, 18-21;
Rakshita Sree lost to Xu Wen Jing 21-14, 15-21, 17-21)
Men: India lost to Korea 1-3
(Ayush Shetty lost to Yoo Tae Bin 21-18, 14-21, 24-26;
Hariharan Amsakarunan/Chirag Shetty lost to Song Hyun Cho/Kim Won Ho 11-21, 13-21;
Kidambi Srikanth beat Choi Ji Hoon 21-15, 21-16;
(Pruthvi K Roy/K Sai Pratheek lost to Jin Yong/Ki Dong Ju 11-21, 16-21)
