In the Uber Cup, Indian women defeat Canada 4-1, with Ashmita Chaliha stunning Michelle Li

At the Uber Cup event here on Saturday, the Indian women’s team started the tournament well with a convincing 4-1 victory over Canada thanks to an exceptional performance by Ashmita Chaliha that stunned higher-ranked Michelle Li.

In a 42-minute first singles match, the left-handed Chaliha, ranked 53rd, defeated world number 25 Li, a gold and silver medalist at the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, 26-24, 24-22, demonstrating incredible mental toughness and determination.

In the absence of the best players, like P. V. Sindhu, Chaliha, who was a part of India’s historic victory at the Asia Team Championships in February, took charge and performed well against Li, who is recovering from surgery for a meniscus rupture to her right knee in August.

Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra, the young women’s doubles team that had won the senior national championships in December, defeated Catherine Choi and Jeslyn Chow 21-12, 21-10, to give India a 2-0 lead.

Wen Yu Zhang was beaten by Isharani Baruah 21-13, 21-12 to give India an unbeatable 3-0 lead.

In the second women’s doubles match, national champion Anmol Kharb defeated Eliana Zhang 21-15, 21-11, to secure an easy victory. Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker lost 19-21, 15-21, against Canada’s Jackie Dent and Crystal.

The youthful Indian team will play China and Singapore on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, in Group A, where bigger matches are in store.

Later in the day, India will take on Thailand in the Thomas Cup to start their championship defense.