India pulls first victory at the Badminton Asia Team Championship 2018

Saina’s pull out at the Badminton Asia Team Championship is the burden for PV Sindhu, who fought to save two points, in singles and doubles each, cornering Hong Kong with 3-2 lead in their opening Group W match in Alor Setar, Malaysia on Tuesday.

Team manager and President of Badminton Association of Sikkim (BAS), C. Zangpo said, “It was certainly a close call for us today. I must admit that without Saina in the team it made things difficult for India.”

Saina, withdrew from the team for the tournament a she requires more rest and training for the All England badminton tournament to be held in March. The world no. 10, who stood as the runner-up in the Indonesia Masters few days ago is still recovering from the ankle injury.

Sindhu, not just saved the point in her women’s singles match, but also in women’s doubles pairing with the doubles specialist N Sikki Reddy.

The 22-year old lanky Indian defeated Yip Pui Yin in 33 minutes with 21-12, 21-18 in the first women’s singles match.

Hong Kong, however, leveled the score at 1-1 when Ng Wing Yung and Yeung Nga Ting ousted Ashwini Ponnappa and Prajakta Sawant to a 22-20, 20-22 10-21 defeat in the first women’s doubles.

In the second women’s singles match, Cheung Ying Mei, who bet Carolina Marin in last week’s India Open, pressured Indians with her defeat over Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli with 21-19, 18-21, 22-20.

Sindhu Partnered with Sikki Reddy pulled a second victory in the second women’s doubles match against Ng Tsz Yau and Yuen Sin Ying with 21-15, 15-21, 21-14 to level the score with 2-2.

Ruthvika Shivani Gadde, after losing in the first game clinched the match and saved the team against Hong Kong with the winning point in the last women’s singles match. She prevailed a 16-21, 21-16, 21-12 victory over Yeung Sum Yee.

“It was tiring but I had an easier win in the singles. So, this helped me in the doubles.

We have a rest day tomorrow (Wednesday) and it gives us some breathing space,” said Sindhu who lost the India Open title to world no. 11 Zhang Beiwen in New Delhi on Sunday.

Results (Feb 6): India beat Hong Kong with 3-2

WOMEN GROUP W

WS1: P.V. Sindhu beat Yip Pui Yin 21-12, 21-18

WD1: Ashwini Ponnappa-Prajakta Sawant lost to Ng Wing Yung-Yeung Nga Ting 22-20, 20-22, 10-21

WS2: Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli lost to Cheung Ying Mei 19-21, 21-18, 20-22

WD2: P.V. Sindhu-N. Sikki Reddy beat Ng Tsz Yau-Yuen Sin Ying 21-15, 15-21, 21-14

WS3: Ruthvika Shivani Gadde beat Yeung Sum Yee 16-21, 21-16, 21-13

GROUP X

Chinese Taipei beat Maldives with 5-0

GROUP Z

Indonesia beat Singapore with 5-0