India’s hopes in the Sudirman Cup badminton tournament were dashed after a disappointing loss to Malaysia in their second Group C match of the mixed team championships on Monday. Despite the best efforts of their star players Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu, India was unable to produce the goods and their campaign came to an end in the prestigious tournament.
India suffers back-to-back losses in Sudirman Cup as Malaysia takes an early lead in Group C badminton
In the first match of the tie, Dhruv Kapila and Ashwini Ponnappa were up against the world No. 8 pair of Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie. It was always going to be a tough match for the Indian duo, and despite their best efforts, they lost in straight sets 16-21, 17-21 in 35 minutes.
In the second match, India’s star shuttler Kidambi Srikanth took on world No. 8 Lee Zii Jia in the men’s singles contest. However, Srikanth struggled to find his rhythm and was unable to get India’s campaign back on track. He lost in straight sets 16-21, 11-21, giving Malaysia a commanding 2-0 lead.
In the third match of the tie, world No. 12 PV Sindhu faced off against world No. 30 Goh Jin Wei in the women’s singles contest. Sindhu won the first game convincingly 21-14, but then squandered her advantage in the second game and lost 10-21. In the decider, Sindhu put up a great fightback and erased a 2-11 deficit. However, it was not enough as she eventually went down to Goh 20-22.
The loss to Malaysia meant that India conceded a 0-3 lead in the five-match tie and were knocked out of the Sudirman Cup badminton tournament. The result also meant that India finished third in the group, with Chinese Taipei and Malaysia finishing as the top two teams and qualifying for the quarterfinals.
India’s top shuttlers fail to deliver in Sudirman Cup tie against Malaysia
India had high hopes for the tournament, with star players such as Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu, and Saina Nehwal in their ranks. However, they were unable to live up to expectations and fell short against Malaysia.
In the men’s singles contest, Srikanth was too erratic and struggled to find his rhythm against Lee Zii Jia. Srikanth is known for his attacking game and his ability to put pressure on his opponents. However, he was unable to do so against Lee and made several unforced errors, which cost him the match.
In the women’s singles contest, Sindhu had a great start, winning the first game convincingly. However, she lost her momentum in the second game and was unable to match Goh’s aggression. In the decider, Sindhu showed great fightback and erased a big deficit. However, Goh was able to hold her nerve and win the match.
The loss to Malaysia was a huge disappointment for India, who were hoping to make a mark in the prestigious tournament. India has a rich history in badminton and has produced some of the world’s top players in recent years. However, they were unable to deliver when it mattered the most and their campaign ended in disappointment.
The Sudirman Cup is a prestigious mixed team badminton tournament that is held every two years. The tournament features teams from around the world and is considered to be one of the most important events in the badminton calendar. The tournament is named after Dick Sudirman, a former Indonesian badminton player who won multiple All England Open Badminton Championships.
In the fourth match of the tie, the Indian mixed doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa tried their best to keep India’s hopes alive, but they eventually succumbed to defeat against the Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying. The Indian pair lost 16-21, 21-17, 8-21 in a match that lasted 52 minutes.
With the tie already lost, India’s men’s doubles pair of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila took to the court for the final match of the tie. However, they were unable to cause an upset, losing 18-21, 12-21 to Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia.
The defeat to Malaysia meant that India finished third in Group C and failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. It was a disappointing campaign for the Indian team, which had high hopes going into the competition.
Kidambi Srikanth, who is currently ranked world No. 14 in men’s singles, had a forgettable tournament, losing both his matches in straight games. PV Sindhu, on the other hand, won her first match against Chinese Taipei’s Pai Yu Po, but was unable to replicate her form in the match against Malaysia.
Overall, India’s performances in the Sudirman Cup highlighted the need for more depth in the squad. While the likes of Kidambi Srikanth and PV Sindhu are world-class players, they cannot carry the burden of the team alone. The absence of Saina Nehwal, who pulled out of the tournament due to injury, was also a big blow for India.
The Indian team will need to regroup and work on their weaknesses ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. With the badminton competition set to begin on July 24, the players will have just over a month to prepare and get themselves into peak physical and mental condition.
In conclusion, India’s campaign at the Sudirman Cup ended in disappointment, with the team failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. While there were a few bright spots, such as PV Sindhu’s win over Pai Yu Po, the overall performances were below par. The Indian team will need to work on their weaknesses and improve their squad depth ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
