Young Tanvi Sharma produced a stunning win, but defending champions India suffered a narrow 2-3 loss to Thailand in their second Group Y match of the Badminton Asia Team Championships here on Thursday. However, despite the defeat, India qualified for the quarterfinals.
India, who had beaten Myanmar 5-0 in their opening tie on Wednesday, finished second in Group Y behind Thailand after the five-match rubber.
World No. 42 Tanvi, a member of India's historic gold medal-winning team at the 2024 edition, stunned World No. 16 Busanan Ongbamrungphan 21-14, 17-21, 21-18 in a gripping contest that lasted one hour and three minutes to give India a superb start.
The doubles pair of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly then battled past world No. 65 Tidapron Kleebyeesun and Nattamon Laisuan 21-14, 20-22, 21-11 to hand India a 2-0 lead at the Qingdao Conson Gymnasium. However, Rakshitha Ramraj failed to get past 19-year-old Pitchamon Opatniputh, the 2023 World Junior champion and 2026 Indonesia Masters runner-up, going down 19-21, 17-21 as Thailand pulled one back to trail 1-2.
In the second doubles, Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra fought gallantly but went down 21-19, 14-21, 15-21 to Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan, ranked 57th in the world, allowing Thailand to level the tie and force a deciding fifth match. Entrusted with the responsibility of taking India home, Malvika Bansod faced world No. 69 Pornpicha Choeikeewong in the final singles but could not deliver, losing 18-21, 14-21 in a 40-minute clash.
Also read: Women shuttlers blank Myanmar in Asia Team C’ships opener
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