India book semis spot in Uber Cup

India sailed into last four of the Uber Cup badminton tournament, with a 3-1 win over Thailand in the quarter-finals here on Thursday.

On a day Saina Nehwal bit the dust against 2013 world champion Ratcha-nok Intanon in the first singles, P.V. Sindhu and then Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa took up the responsibility and won the second singles and first doubles.

It was young shuttler Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, who sealed the win for India after she dished out a superb game to outclass Nitchaon Jindapol 21-18, 21-16 in the second singles.

Earlier, second-ranked Ratchanok utilised her crafty backhand to beat Nehwal 21-19, 21-12.

But Sindhu brought India back into the fray, registering a 21-18, 21-7 win over Busanan Ongbumrung-phan, while in the doubles Jwala and Ashwini prevailed 21-19, 21-12 over Puttita Supajirakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai to make it 2-1.

Ruthvika was then given the responsibility of taking India home and the 19-year-old showed her composure, beating world no. 25 Nitchaon in a 41-minute third singles to seal the victory for India.

Malaysia enter men’s semis Lee Chong Wei led Malaysia into the Thomas Cup semi-finals after they beat Taiwan 3-1.

Indonesia also reached the semis as they sent Hong Kong packing with the same margin.