Indian shuttlers performed well in office on the opening day of the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton tournament with both teams recording 4-1 victories over their respective rivals in the opening match on Saturday. Ashmita Chaliha produced an inspired show to surprise Michelle Li, with the Indian women’s team claiming a clinical victory over Canada and then their male counterparts, defending champions, also dishing out the same result against Thailand in the Group C game of Thomas Cup.
Left-hander Chaliha, ranked 53rd, showed great mental determination and tenacity in defeating world number 25 Li, gold and silver medalist at the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, 26-24 24-22 in an opening simple 42-minute shock.
Chaliha, who was part of India’s first win at the Asian Team Championship in February, took on the leadership role in the absence of top players including PV Sindhu and defeated Li, who is recovering after undergoing surgery for a tear of the meniscus in his right knee last August.
Women’s doubles pair Priya Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra, who won the senior national championship title last December, defeated Catherine Choi and Jeslyn Chow 21-12, 21-10 to put India ahead 2-0.
Isharani Baruah defeated Wen Yu Zhang 21-13, 21-12 to help India take an unassailable 3-0 lead.
In the women’s second doubles, Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker lost 19-21 15-21 to Jackie Dent and Crystal before national champion Anmol Kharb beat Eliana Zhang 21-15 21-11 in the fifth and final match to complete the comfortable victory.
Bigger clashes await the young Indian team, who will face Singapore and China on Sunday and Tuesday respectively in Group A.
In the Thomas Cup, HS Prannoy took to the court first but lost 20-22 and 14-21 against Kunlavut Vitidsarn, leaving India 0-1 down.
Indian men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had to battle for 65 minutes to get the better of Peeratchai Sukhpun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-19 19-21 21-12 to level the scores.
Then Lakshya Sen battled for 63 minutes to beat Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 21-12, 19-21, 21-16 to give India the lead.
The second Indian men’s doubles combination of MR Arjun and Dhruv Kapila tamed Tanadon Punpanich and Wachirawit Sothon 21-19 21-15 to seal the draw in India’s favor.
In the inconsequential final match of the tie, Kidambi Srikanth defeated Saran Jamsri 21-9, 21-5 in just 29 minutes.
The Indian women will face Singapore in their next Uber Cup Group A match while the men’s team will face England in their second game on Monday.
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