India Out of Sudirman Cup with 1-4 Loss to Korea
The day turned out to be a disappointing one for India’s Badminton as the Indian Badminton Team fails today to hail towards quarter finals at the prestigious World Mixed Teams Sudirman Cup tournament at Dongguan, China. The dismay at Group D1 contest came as an acute one with Saina Nehwal’s fights going in vain after she edged out the former no. 5 of world Bae Yeon Ju in the women’s singles. Except world’s no. 2 Saina Nehwal, all other companions lost the games against Korea. Now Malaysia and Korea are qualified teams from Group 1D to go for the quarterfinals.
India is pitted in Group 1D of the tournament along side Malaysia and Korea. India received a jolt after men’s doubles pairing of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar lost to south Korea combination of Kim Gi Jung and Kim Sa Rang with 10-21, 19-21.
However Saina’s heroic against Ju Bae brought back India to stay in the Sudirman contest just to get a push back once again with Parupalli Kashyap’s loss against Son Wan Ho of South Korea. None of the Indian player could stand South Korea except Saina Nehwal which ended India’s game at the ongoing Sudirman cup badminton tournament.
India’s hopes were also brightened by 2011’s bronze medalist pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponanappa which unfortunately went down as they lost against South Korea double Chang Ye Na and Jung Kyung Eun at 21-18, 12-21, 12-21. However it was a wild battle with Jwala and Ashwini giving out some superb returns and smashes.
India’s mixed doubles combination of Manu Attri and Sikki Reddy too lost to South Korea’s Kim Ha Na and Ko Sung Hyung at the final match which made the chances nil for India.
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After losing to Malaysia 3-2 on Monday 11th May, India needed to defeat South Korea in a must-win game to reach the quarterfinals of the Sudirman competition. However the dreams din’t turn out to be true as only Saina Nehwal won her singles match against Bae Yeon Ju.
The Sudirman Cup is the 14th edition of the prestigious Sudirman Cup; held in Dongguan, China this year. This mixed team badminton championship takes place every two years and it is one of the most prestigious titles in badminton. In 2011 Sundirman tournament, India had reached the knock out stage.
Korea clearly fielded Ju Bae against Saino instead of Sung Ji Hyun today as Ju Bae holds better record against Saina. Though it seemed to work initially, Saina rendered a brilliant performance at decider as she brought the game to finish at slender margin in no time.
On Monday 11th May, India was knocked out by Malaysia at the opening tie of Group 1D with 2-3.
The draw for quarter finals of Sundirman was made after the final match of 13th May. As the schedule of the quarter final goes, China vs Germany and Korea vs Malaysia will be played on 14th May. Indonesia vs Chinese Taipei and Japan vs Denmark quarter finals will be played on 15th of May. The two semi finals will be played on 16th May and the final match of the entire Sundirman tournament will be on 17th May.