Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024: Indian women stun China, men defeat Hong Kong to reach quarterfinals

Young Anmol Kharb clinched the women’s tie for India.

Indian women’s team upset the mighty Chinese while the men got the better of Hong Kong to march into the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 being played at Selangor, Malaysia, on Wednesday.

The women, led by two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, defeated China for the first time in a team event with 17-year-old Anmol Kharb coming up with an inspired performance to ensure a 3-2 scoreline in India’s favour in the Group W clash.

Later, the men defeated Hong Kong 4-1 to assure themselves of a top-two finish from Group A.

But the talking point of the day was definitely the women’s team upset of China. Sindhu, coming back from a long injury lay-off, showed that she was not just regaining her form but also her confidence as she won the opening game against Han Yue comfortably and then turned around a 10-13 deficit in the second game by winning 11 of the next 13 points to give India the lead.

🇮🇳 Indian women's team defeat 🇨🇳 China to sail into the quarterfinals of #BATC2024 as Group W toppers!! 🏸🥳With the tie locked at 2-2, 17 y/o Anmol Kharb upset Wu Luo Yu 22-20, 14-21, 21-18 to clinch the match for India!#BadmintonAsiaTeamChampionships2024 pic.twitter.com/OyaeeyafEz

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) February 14, 2024

Though the doubles combination of Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa and singles player Ashmita Chaliha put up a brave fight, they could not avoid India falling back 1-2 behind.

However, All England semifinalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand then fought back from a game down against world no. 22 combination Li Yi Jing and Luo Xu Min to win 10-21, 21-18, 21-17 in an hour and nine minutes to restore parity.

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All eyes were then on national champion Anmol, who was playing in the competition for the first time. In a closely contested opening game, the 17-year-old kept her nerves under pressure from Wu Luo Yu to convert her second game point and draw first blood.

It looked like the pressure was getting to the teenager as she lost the second game and trailed 1-5 at the start of the third. However, she stuck to her game plan of keeping the shuttle in play and wrapped up the match the rubber with three straight points, 22-20, 14-21, 21-18.

With just two teams in Group W, India will qualify for the quarterfinals as the top team.

Indian men's team advance to quarterfinals of #BATC2024!! 🇮🇳🏸India beat Hong Kong 4-1 in their opening Group A match with Satwik-Chirag, Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth and MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila winning their matches!#BadmintonAsiaTeamChampionships2024 pic.twitter.com/c1bH32rcwq

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) February 14, 2024

Reacting to the team’s victory, Badminton Association of India General Secretary Sanjay Mishra said, “It is a special feeling to see the team beating China. More importantly, we showed faith in the youngsters while selecting the team and I am happy they delivered the goods.”

In the men’s team event, the Indian team put behind the reversal of HS Prannoy’s loss in the opening men’s singles match to beat Hong Kong quite easily. They will face China to decide the group winners on Thursday.

Results

Women: India beat China 3-2 (PV Sindhu beat Han Yue 21-17, 21-15; Ashwini Ponnappa/Tanisha Crasto lost to Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning 19-21, 16-21; Ashmita Chaliha lost to Wang Zhi Yi 13-21, 15-21; Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand beat Li Yi Jing/Luo Xu Min 10-21, 21-18, 21-17; Anmol Kharab beat Wu Luo Yu 22-20, 14-21, 21-18)

Men: India beat Hong Kong 4-1 (HS Prannoy lost to NG Ka Long Angus 18-21, 14-21; Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty beat Lui Chun Wai/Yeung Shing Choi 21-16, 21-11; Lakshya Sen beat Chand Yik Chak 21-14, 21-9; MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila beat Chow Hin Long/Hung Kuei Chun 21-12, 21-7; Kidambi Srikanth beat Jason Gunawan 21-14, 21-18)

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