23.5.14

Thomas Cup Live Update

The Indians survived anxious moments against Indonesia before cruising home 3-0. Defending champions China took lesser time in recording a similar 3-0 result over England, while in Thomas Cup action, Indonesia nixed Korea and Malaysia stunned Denmark to enter the last-four stage. India take on Japan while China play Korea in the Uber Cup semi-finals, while in the Thomas Cup, Malaysia clash with Indonesia and China with Japan.

The Siri Fort Complex had turned into noisy cauldron today with home stars Saina Nehwal and Company attempting to create history for India. Nehwal, who hasn’t been in the best of form in recent times, took her time to get going against Lindaweni Fanetri, but once she had pocketed the first game, she was back to her confident old self and smashed winners at will, to finish victorious at 21-17 21-10.

The second match had the crowd in rapt attention as the advantage swung from Sindhu to her opponent Bellaetrix Manuputty (above). Despite being ranked 13 places below her Indian opponent, Manuputty produced a valiant performance that nearly toppled India’s hopes. With victory in sight, both players drove themselves past their limits, until Sindhu at last forced the fatal error from her opponent after both had saved match points: 21-16 10-21 25-23.

Manuputty was speechless for a long while after the match. Sindhu gave credit to her opponent for the memorable challenge.

“She was returning everything, she just wasn’t letting any shuttle go by,” Sindhu said.

Manuputty admitted that her inability to force the issue at a crucial point took the match away. “When I had the lead in the third game, I didn’t force the rally. I attacked when I was down, but by then it was too late.”

Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta (BWF home page) ensured the third point for India with a dominant 21-18 21-18 win over Greysia Polii/Nitya Krishinda Maheswari.

The other tie that had the crowd on the edge of their seats was the Thomas Cup clash between Indonesia and Korea.

Credit to  : Badminton World Federation

 

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