Thomas and Uber Cup: Saina and Co settle for bronze

Saina Nehwal hits a return to Li Xuerui of China in their Uber Cup women’s semi finals group match in Kunshan on Friday. The hosts won 3-0. (Photo: AFP )

The Indian women’s team settled for a bronze medal after suffering a 0-3 defeat at the hands of defending champions China in the semi-finals of the Uber Cup badminton championship, here on Friday.

After top shuttlers Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu went down narrowly in the two singles match, Jwala Gutta and N. Sikki Reddy also bit the dust in the first doubles, ending India’s campaign.

India, who assured themselves a bronze with a 3-1 win over Thailand on Thursday, needed a magical performance to tame 13-time champions China at home but unfortunately the miracle did not happen.

Starting the proceedings once again, Saina played out of her skin before losing 15-21, 21-12, 17-21 to Li Xuerui. It was her eighth successive loss to Li. The last time Saina had beaten the Olympic champion was in the 2012 Indonesia Open.

Coming into the match with a 4-5 head-to-head record against Wang Shixian, Sindhu went full throttle before suffering a 13-21, 21-23 loss.

Down 0-2 in the five-match rubber, Jwala and Sikki tried their best before capitulating 6-21, 6-21 against Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei.

Indonesia in final Indonesia beat South Korea 3-1 to reach the Thomas Cup final and raise hopes of their first victory in 14 years in a competition they once dominated.

Indonesia proved too strong for South Korea, who stunned hosts China a day earlier.