Thomas and Uber Cup: Indian women to face Thailand in quarterfinals
Indian women, who were whitewashed by South Korea 0-5 in their last Group D match on Wednesday, will face Thailand in the quarterfinals of the Uber Cup in Bangkok on Thursday. The Indian men too lost their last Group C match against Chinese Taipei 2-3 in the Thomas Cup. The men and women have already qualified for the quarterfinals.
PV Sindhu suffered a 15-21, 14-21 loss to An Seyoung. This is the fifth victory for the 20-year-old Korean against Sindhu in five meetings.
The doubles team of Shruti Mishra and Simran Singhi was no match for Sohee Lee and Seungchan Shin and lost 13-21, 12-21. Kim Gaeun routed Aakarshi Kashyap 21-10, 21-10 to seal the match for Korea. The unseeded Indian pair of Tanisha Crasto and Treesa Jolly lost to world No. 139 team of Kim Hye Jeong and Kong Heeyong.
Sim Yujin capped a fine day for Korea with a 21-18, 21-17 victory against Ashmita Chaliha. The Indian women have their task cut out against Thailand. But for Sindhu, who may face Ratchanok Intanon, the rest of the Indian squad are ranked way below the Thais.
Pornpawee Chochuwong, who plays the second singles for Thailand is No. 10 in the world while Busanan Ongbamrungphan is No. 12.
The first doubles team comprising Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawind Prajongjai are No. 8. It would require a sensational effort from the Indians to stop the Thais. In Thomas Cup, Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy won their matches. Srikanth drubbed Wang Tzu Wei 21-19, 21-16 and Prannoy defeated Lu Chia Hung 21-18, 17-21, 21-18.
Results:
Chinese Taipei bt India 3-2 (Chou Tien Chen bt Lakshya Sen 21-19, 13-21, 21-17; Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin bt Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty 21-11, 21-19; Wang Tzu Wei lost to Kidambi Srikanth 19-21, 16-21; Lu Ching Yao/Yang Po Han bt MR Arjun/Dhruv Kapila 21-17, 19-21, 21-19; Lu Chia Hung lost to HS Prannoy 18-21, 21-17, 18-21).
Uber Cup: South Korea bt India 5-0 (An Seyoung bt PV Sindhu 21-15, 21-14; Lee Sohee/Shin Seungchan bt Shruti Mishra/Simran Singhi 21-13, 21-12; Kim Gaeun bt Aakarshi Kashyap 21-10, 21-10; Kim Hye Jeong/Kong Heeyong bt Tanisha Crasto/Treesa Jolly 21-14, 21-11; Sim Yujin bt Ashmita Chaliha 21-18, 21-17)
