P.V. Sindhu reacts during her women’s singles Group D match against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the Uber Cup badminton tournament at Kunshan, China, on Wednesday. India lost 2-3. (Photo: AFP)
P.V. Sindhu reacts during her women’s singles Group D match against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the Uber Cup badminton tournament at Kunshan, China, on Wednesday. India lost 2-3. (Photo: AFP)
The Indian women’s team qualified for the Uber Cup quarter-finals despite a 2-3 loss to powerhouse Japan in their third and final Group D match, here on Wednesday.
The men’s team, however, continued their dismal run in the Thomas Cup and crashed out after being blanked 0-5 by Indonesia in their third match in Group B.
The men had lost to Thailand and Hong Kong in their last two outings and return winless from China.
In Uber Cup play, Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu notched up straight games victories in the first two singles but India could not win the two doubles and third singles to go down fighting to the 2014 runners-up Japan.
Olympic bronze medallist Saina defeated world no. 5 Nozomi Okuhara 21-18, 21-6 to avenge her only loss to the Japanese at the Dubai World Superseries Finals last year and give her team a 1-0 lead.
In the second singles, two-time world championship bronze medallist, P.V. Sindhu notched up a 21-11, 21-18 win over world no. 11 Akane Yamaguchi in a 36-minute clash to hand India a 2-0 lead.
Jwala Gutta and N. Sikki Reddy then lost to the world no. 1 pair of Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi 11-21, 8-21 within half an hour in the first doubles.
In the third singles, Ruthvika Shivani Gadde went down to world no. 12 Sayaka Sato 7-21, 14-21 in 29 minutes as Japan drew parity.
In the decider, Ashwini Ponnappa and Sindhu went down 21-15, 19-21, 16-21 to Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito making it 3-2 for Japan in their final league match.
However, India still qualified for the knockout stage as they were placed second behind Japan in Group D following wins over Australia and Germany.
