Indian women stun Japan to storm into finals of Badminton Asia Team Championship

The Indian women's team is set to face Thailand for the final match on Sunday, 18 february

Women's team qualifies for Badminton Asia Team Championship finals / (Image - X, BAI_Media)

The Indian women badminton team achieved a historic milestone by entering the finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships on Saturday, marking their country’s first-ever appearance in the finals.

The Indian shuttlers defeated two-time defending champions, Japan, 3-2 in an exciting semifinal.

HISTORY SCRIPTED

World No. 53 Ashmita Chaliha, world No. 23 Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, and world No. 17 Anmol Kharb all achieved incredible victories in the first and second doubles, as well as the decider, to advance India to the top match.

However, Indian ace double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu was unable to match her best against Aya Ohori, losing 13-21, 20-22 in the opening singles match. She had previously won over Han Yue of China and Lo Sin Yan Happy of Hong Kong, in the tournament.

In the first doubles, Treesa and Gayatri put on a fantastic show to outsmart world No. 6. Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu India tied the match at one after 73 minutes with victories of 21-17, 16-21, and 22-20.

Left-handed Ashmita played an aggressive game against world No. 20 Nozomi Okuhara, the former world champion, making full use of her overhead cross drops and jump smashes. She recorded an astonishing 21-17, 21-14 victory to give India a 2-1 lead.

Despite missing their top players—Akane Yamaguchi, Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota and Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara—Japan remained a strong opponent, making it a difficult match for India.

Anmol was tasked with controlling world No. 29 Natsuki Nidaira when the five-match score was evenly set at 2-2. The Indian lived up to the expectation winning 21-14, 21-18 in 52 minutes to grant her team the historic win.