Isharani Baruah and Anmol Kharb shone bright as the India women’s team entered the quarter finals of the Uber Cup badminton tournament with a 4-1 win over Singapore in the second tie of group A, here on Sunday.
Asian champions India, who had defeated Canada 4-1 in the opening tie, produced another fine show as they recovered from the opening match loss of Ashmita Chaliha and went on to win the rest of the contests with ease.
It turned out to be a fine weekend for the young India side who were missing the big guns, but they displayed their skill and temperament at the big stage to win both their ties.
China blanked Canada 3-0 in another group A match and the result was enough for both India and their Asian neighbours to seal quarter final spots.
With the twin victories, India are now placed second behind China in Group A. The two teams will clash on Tuesday in their final group match to decide the top spot.
The 53rd-ranked Chaliha, who had outwitted Canada’s Michelle Li on Saturday, found the going tough against world No. 18 Yeo Jia Min on Sunday, going down 15-21, 18-21.
National champions Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra, ranked 67, then brought India back with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Xiao En Heng and Jin Yu Jia in the first women’s doubles.
Isharani, ranked 83rd, went on to double India’s lead by claiming a 21-13, 21-16 win over Insyirah Khan in the second singles. The 64th-ranked pair of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker then won 21-8, 21-11 against Yi Ting Elsa Lai and Zan Michelle to give India a 3-1 lead.
Rising star Anmol, ranked 258th, then sealed the tie with a 21-15, 21-13 win over Lee Xin Megan in the third singles.
“It was a very important match, because a victory meant we would qualify (for the quarter finals). So, there was a bit of pressure but in a good way. Even though Ashmita lost, she gave her best. It was then our turn to give our best. We were not very confident during our first tie but today (Sunday) we were more confident,” Shruti said.
India have reached the semi-finals of the Uber Cup in 1957, 2014 and 2016.
In Thomas Cup, Defending champions India will face England on Monday.
PTI
