India will return home with its first ever medal — bronze — in this continental tournament.© Twitter
India’s campaign at the Badminton Asian Mixed Team Championships ended with a 2-3 loss to China in the semi-finals but before that the doubles teams – men’s and mixed – put up an inspired performance to give their opponents a tough time. Saturday. Although India lost the tight contest, they would return home with their first ever medal – a bronze – from a continental tournament, as both the semi-final losers are awarded medals.
Trailing 0-2, HS Prannoy lost his first semi-final match to Li Lan Xi 13-21 15-21 and two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu lost 9-21 21-16 18-21. Had to do Gao Fang Jie’s, doubles teams did better to bring India back on level terms (2-2).
In the mixed team event, Prannoy was no match for the 2016 world junior champion, losing in just 45 minutes, while Sindhu, who is slowly getting back to full fitness after a heel injury that kept her out for five months, Kept outside, gave them a tough fight. The 24-year-old rival bowed out in one hour and 10 minutes.
Men’s doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Chirag Shetty then beat Ji Ting and Zhou Hao Dong 21-19, 21-19 and women’s doubles pair Trisa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand beat Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning 21-18, 13-21. Defeated 21-19 to level the score at 2-2.
All eyes were on the mixed doubles pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto to take India to the final but Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin proved too strong in the decider, winning 21-17 21-13 in just 34 minutes Recorded victory.
Earlier on Friday, India beat Hong Kong 3-2 to qualify for the semi-finals and ensure a maiden medal in the continental tournament.
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