India's Badminton Asia Team Championships Campaign Ends in Quarterfinal Exits
India's participation in the Badminton Asia Team Championships concluded with significant disappointment on Friday as both the women's and men's national teams were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage. The defending champion women's squad suffered a comprehensive 0-3 defeat against a second-string Chinese team, while the men's team fell 1-3 to a determined Korean side.
Women's Team Falls to China Without Sindhu
The absence of star shuttler PV Sindhu proved particularly costly for the Indian women's team as they struggled against their Chinese opponents. World No. 42 Tanvi Sharma, who had shown promising form earlier in the tournament, was unable to maintain momentum against world No. 10 Gao Fang Jie, losing in straight games while struggling to match her opponent's superior pace and power.
In the crucial doubles match, the Indian pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly fought valiantly against world No. 4 combination Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian. Despite holding advantages in both games, the Indian duo ultimately succumbed in two closely contested sets.
With elimination looming, Rakshitha Ramraj battled for an exhausting 69 minutes in the second singles match before eventually losing in three games, sealing India's exit and ending their title defense prematurely.
Men's Team Hampered by Key Absences
Earlier in the day, the Indian men's team faced similar disappointment with a 1-3 loss to Korea. The squad was significantly hampered by the absence of two key players: Lakshya Sen was rested due to back pain concerns, while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy was unavailable for personal reasons.
The opening singles match featured a heartbreaking performance from Ayush Shetty, who missed several match points during an 84-minute marathon contest against Yoo Tae Bin. The makeshift doubles pairing of Chirag Shetty and Hariharan Amsakarunan then lost in straight games, putting India in a difficult position.
Veteran shuttler Kidambi Srikanth briefly revived India's hopes with a convincing straight-games victory in the second singles match. However, the second doubles defeat for the pair of Pruthvi Krishnan and K Sai Pratheek ultimately sealed Korea's victory and India's elimination from the tournament.
Tournament Implications and Looking Ahead
The quarterfinal exits represent a significant setback for Indian badminton, particularly for the women's team who entered as defending champions. The results highlight several key areas for improvement:
- Player depth and squad rotation remains a concern when key athletes are unavailable
- Closing out crucial matches continues to challenge Indian shuttlers in high-pressure situations
- Doubles partnerships require more consistent performance against top international competition
Both teams will now regroup and refocus their efforts on upcoming international tournaments, with particular attention to developing greater consistency and resilience in knockout stage competitions.
