H.S. Prannoy (from left), Ajay Jayaram and Kidambi Srikanth after their 3-2 win over China at the Asia Championships in Hyderabad on Thursday. (Photo: Deepak Deshpande)
H.S. Prannoy (from left), Ajay Jayaram and Kidambi Srikanth after their 3-2 win over China at the Asia Championships in Hyderabad on Thursday. (Photo: Deepak Deshpande)
India had a mixed day at the office, with the men registering a close victory over China and the women’s side crumbling in the face of a Japanese onslaught at the Badminton Asia Championships at GMC Balayogi Stadium here on Thursday.
The men’s side won all their singles matches while the women lost all of theirs. Kidambi Srikanth, Ajay Jayaram and H.S. Prannoy starred in India’s narrow 3-2 victory over the Chinese. With the win, india topped Group A.
Later in the day, P.V. Sindhu squandered a one-game advantage to set the tone. After Sindhu went down to Nozomi Okuhara 21-18, 12-21, 12-21, P.C. Thulasi put up a fight, but was unable to prevent Sayaka Sato from winning 24-22, 21-14.
It all came down to G. Ruthvika Shivani. The reigning national tried her hardest, too, but it just wasn’t her day. Yui Hashimoto, undaunted after losing the first game, played brilliantly to win 23-25, 21-14, 21-14 to seal the tie in Japan’s favour.
Earlier, in a bid to atone for his less than stellar showing on Wednesday, Srikanth was clinical in his 21-11, 21-17 victory over Tian Houwei.
The early cheer dissipated once the men’s doubles pairs took the court. China’s Li Junhui and Qui Zhan were slow off the blocks, but once they pocketed the opening game 22-20, there was no stopping them. They reeled off a series of winners as they took the second game 21-11 and restored parity in the tie.
Jayaram helped India roar back into the lead with a rousing 22-20, 15-21, 21-18 win over Wang Zhengming.
The Chinese once again pulled level, this time through the doubles pair of Wang Yilv and Wang Wen. The Wangs thumped Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar 21-10, 21-18 and it all came down to the match between Prannoy and Shi Yuqi.
Prannoy, despite some spirited play from Shi, held his nerve and won the decider 21-14, 21-10.
