Badminton Asia Team Championship: India Women Beat Hong Kong to Book Spot in Semis, Confirm Maiden Medal

The Indian women’s team defeated Hong Kong 3-0 in the quarterfinals at the Badminton Asia Team Championship in Shah Alam on Friday.

India entered the tie as favourites against Hong Kong and with the win, booked their place in the semifinal, assuring India of at least a bronze, the country’s maiden medal in the competition.

In the first singles tie, PV Sindhu defeated Hong Kong’s top singles player is world no. 77 Lo Sin Yan 21-7, 16-21, 21-12 as the doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa got the better of world no. 18 Yeung Nga Ting and Yeung Pui Lam 21-10, 21-14. India bagged the tie in the second singles clash itself, as Ashmita Chaliha beat 121-ranked Yeung Sum Yee 21-12, 21-13.

“It is a comfortable result for the women’s team. I am very happy with their performance,” former national coach Vimal Kumar, who is with the team, told PTI from Shah Alam.

“There was a little drift, so it was initially difficult to control the shuttle as it was going out. Sindhu was stretched a bit as it was tough from one end due to the drift but it is a good result, we are in the semifinals.”

India will now face the winner of the other quarterfinal between top seed Japan and China.

India had earlier stunned China 3-2 in their league match to top its group on Wednesday.

The Indian men’s badminton team put up a spirited performance against China but ended on the losing side of a 2-3 scoreline in the last Group A clash on Thursday. They will take on Japan in the quater-final.

The 2024 edition of the biennial continental team championships will also serve as the Asian qualifiers for the 2024 Thomas and Uber Cup to be held in Chengdu, China in April-May. India are the current holders of the Thomas Cup.

The BATC 2024 also offers valuable Race to Paris 2024 ranking points, which will be crucial for shuttlers looking to compete at the upcoming Olympic Games.

(With inputs from Agencies)