Uber Cup 2024: India's probable road to final revealed

India qualified for the quarter-finals, finishing second in the group.

The Thomas and Uber Cup 2024 began on April 27th. Earlier this year, in February, the Indian women’s badminton team achieved a historic victory at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC), led by the two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu.

However, before the start of the Thomas and Uber Cup, it was revealed that P.V. Sindhu and two other crucial doubles pairs would not participate in the tournament. Nonetheless, promising young talents such as Anmol Kharb, Tanvi Sharma and Ashmita Chaliha, who showcased remarkable performances at the BATC, were included in the Indian squad.

India’s campaign so far

India commenced their tournament with a robust performance, securing a 4-1 victory over Canada in the opening round. Ashmita Chaliha, continuing her excellent form from the BATC, convincingly defeated the 25th-ranked Michelle Li in straight games.

In the subsequent league tie against Singapore, India had a shaky start as Ashmita suffered a defeat to Yeo Jia Min in the first match. Nevertheless, the team rebounded strongly, winning the tie 4-1 without losing any further games. The women’s doubles pair, Priya and Shruti, secured the second match, followed by Isharani Baruah’s victory in her singles match. Simran and Ritika triumphed in the fourth match and Anmol Kharb clinched the final match of the tie.

During the last group tie against China, Ashmita was notably absent from the lineup, leading to Isharani Baruah being promoted to play the first women’s singles match. Despite her valiant efforts, Baruah faced a formidable opponent in the reigning Olympic gold medalist Chen Yufei and was defeated in straight games. Anmol Kharb sustained an ankle injury during her match against Han Yue, which forced her to retire in tears.

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Her absence could be a significant setback for the Indian team. The young talent, Tanvi Sharma, showed resilience against the Asian Championships gold medalist Wang Zhiyi, but was ultimately defeated 21-7, 21-16. China demonstrated their dominance throughout the tie, winning comfortably with a 5-0 scoreline and not dropping a single game.

India’s road to the Uber Cup finals seems challenging, especially with the potential absence of key players due to injuries. The team’s ability to adapt and overcome these adversities will be crucial in their quest for success.

India’s Probable road to finals in Uber Cup

Quarterfinal Opponent: Japan (Confirmed)

India will face Japan in the quarterfinals. The Japanese team pose a formidable challenge with their strengths in both singles and doubles. Japan dominated in their initial group tie against Uganda, swiftly securing victories without allowing any game to reach double digits—all within a remarkably short timeframe of under 25 minutes per match.

Their subsequent match against Hong Kong, China, also ended in a decisive 5-0 victory. In the third group tie, Japan’s women’s singles players encountered a tough challenge against Indonesia. Nonetheless, they persevered and secured a 3-2 victory in the tie. A win against Japan would position India as strong contenders for the title.

Semi-final Opponent 1: China (Probable)

China could be a potential semifinalist for India. The Chinese team have displayed sheer dominance in the group stages, securing comprehensive 5-0 victories against Singapore, Canada and India without dropping a game. As the home favourites, China are aiming to claim their 16th Uber Cup title. While the Indian team’s chances may seem slim, history has shown the potential of underdog teams to defy expectations and achieve remarkable feats.

Semi-final Opponent 2: Denmark (Probable)

Denmark could be a potential semifinalist too, if they go on to beat China. Denmark began their group against the USA, where they secured a 5-0 victory. Despite their triumph, the first three matches of the tie were closely-contested, going to a decider. In their next encounter against Mexico, Denmark achieved another dominant 5-0 win. However, they faced a setback in their third tie, with a 5-0 defeat against Korea. The Indian team have a genuine opportunity here and certainly stand a chance of success.

Final Opponent 1: Korea (Probable)

Korea have the best chance to make it to the finals in the bottom draw. The reigning Uber Cup champions have wasted no time in securing victories in both of their ties against Mexico and the USA, winning comfortably with 5-0 scores. In their third clash against Denmark, Korea once again emerged victorious with a 5-0 result. With the formidable World No. 1 An Se-young and the World No. 2 pair of Baek Ha-na/Lee So-hee leading their team they could prove nemesis in the finals.

Final opponent 2: Thailand (Probable)

Thailand have the next best chance after Korea to make it to the finals from the bottom draw. The Thai team boast a strong singles lineup, featuring Ratchanok Intanon, Supanida Katethong, Pornapawee Chochuwong and Busanan Ongbamrungphan. They won all three matches in the group 5-0 against Australia, Malaysia and Chinese Taipei. However, their women’s doubles pairing lacks experience.

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