Indian women’s badminton team exits the Asian Games after falling to Thailand 0-3
The Indian women’s team, captained by PV Sindhu, was defeated by Thailand 0-3 in the quarterfinals, crashing out of the Asian Games.
With Thai athletes like former world champion Ratchanok Intanon, world no. 12 Pornpawee Chochuwong, and world no. 17 Supanida Katethong among their ranks, India had its work cut out for them in trying to subdue the Thai.
However, India failed to put up much of a fight, with only two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu skipping a game in the first women’s singles match against Chochuwong (21-14 15-21 14-21).
After the initial reversal, it was up to world number 17 Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand to put India back in the game. However, the pair ran out of gas and lost the women’s doubles match 19-21 5-21 against Jongkolphan Kittitharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, who are ranked 10th.
In the third match, Busanan Ongbamrungphan humiliated the left-handed Ashmita Chaliha 9-21, 16-21, ending India’s chances of winning a medal.
Incheon, South Korea’s 2014 edition saw the women’s team take home a bronze medal.
The men’s team, captained by HS Prannoy, will take on Nepal in the quarterfinals later in the day in an effort to win India its first badminton medal in the 19th edition.
Sindhu got things going with a great performance, leading 4-1 and maintaining that advantage until halftime of the first game.
The former world champion put the Thai under strain to extend his lead to 17-10 before quickly collecting seven game points.
However, Chochuwong came back strongly in the second game. After an early struggle, the Thai managed to win by a slim margin of 7-6. Following the break, they took control of the rallies and finally came back, taking a 12-9 and then an 18-14 advantage.
In the final, Chochuwong quickly turned the tables and took an 8-6 lead after Sindhu had a 4-3 lead early on. The Thai shuttler increased her lead to 13-8 before increasing it to 18-11, a margin that was ultimately too much for the Indian.
