Indian men lose 2-3 to Korea to bow out but women reach quarters after 4-1 win over Hong Kong
Monday, followed the Sunday story as Indian women’s team marched into quarter-finals of Uber Cup but the hosts had their share of dismay as the men’s team was ousted following a 2-3 loss to Korea in the Thomas Cup here at the Siri Fort Sports complex.
Women’s team’s 4-1 win over Hong Kong marked their entry into the last -eight of team championships event for the second time. It started with captain Saina Nehwal providing the crucial 1-0 lead after another easy outing as she defeated Yip Yin Pui 21-9, 21-10. The world No 8 Indian never gave a chance to the world No. 21 and rode on her attacking game from the start to register an authoritative win in 35 minutes.
“With the team cheering and expecting me to do well, it was good that I won it for them. It was not that easy as we had some tight rallies in between. She is a good player. I am fully fit now and that gives me the confidence to do well. My movement was good. I am not that kind of a player who relies on strokes and right now I am feeling good about my game,” Saina told reporters after the match.
Soon after, doubles pair of Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa made it 2-0 with a convincing 21-17, 21-13 win over Hoi Wah Chau-lok Yan Poon in 31 minutes. In the second singles tie, PV Sindhu ensured an invincible 3-0 lead for India.
Sindhu stamped her class on Ying Mei Cheung 21-8, 21-10. The world No 11 went on a rampage from the word go. The Hyderabadi showcased her skills and class with her wider reach, accuracy and right judgement to wrap up the tie in 26 minutes.
The second doubles tie followed and the visitors managed to get one point as the pair of Tsz Ka Chan-Ying Suet Tse defeated N Sikki Reddy-Pradnya Gadre 21-14, 21-11.
later, PC Thulasi made it 4-1 with a 19-21, 21-16, 21-7 win over Hung Yung Chan for the fourth win.
With this result, Hong Kong and Canada, who were thrashed by Thailand on Sunday, made the exit. India next play Thailand in an inconsequential match on Tuesday.
Men go down fighting 2-3
Youngster K Srikant dropped the first game 17-21 but fought hard to win the second 21-12 against Wan Ho Son. However, the world No. 9 Korean played an aggressive game to win it 21-18 to give the visitors a crucial 1-0 lead. This win gave the Koreans the much-needed confidence as they boast of two top-ten doubles pair. Ironically, the first match became the decider as the Indian strategy, later on revealed by captain Parupalli Kashyap was to win the singles matches.
In the second match, the visiting world No 10 pair of Yoo Seong Yeon-lee Dae Yong made it 2-0 for their team with a 21-18, 21-17 victory over B Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri.
With the team down 0-2 and another defeat — after Malaysia on Sunday — facing them, the onus was on the skipper to win and make the rubber alive. He did exactly what was demanded of him with a 21-17, 21-14 win against lee Keun Dong and pulled one back for the hosts.
Next, the Indian second doubles pair of Akshay Dewalkar and Pranaav Jerry Chopra maximized their efforts but failed to match the class of the world No 4 pair of Kim Ki Jung-Kim Sa Rang. The Indian pair lost 21-16, 21-16 and enabled the Koreans to seal their quarter-finals berth.
In the final match, RMV Gurusaidutt, who on Sunday had registered the sole victory for the Indians, , pulled off a stunning 24-22 win in the first game and won the second one 21-13 against Soo Jong Hwang to make it 2-3 for India. But it was too late for the hosts who were knocked out of the competition by then.
India will play a dead rubber on Wednesday against Germany, who were ousted by Malaysia earlier in the day.