Uber Cup semifinal: India settle for bronze, fail to cross Japanese hurdle
New Delhi:Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu did well to win their their respective singles but together faltered in the decisive second doubles as India went down fighting 2-3 to five-time champions Japan in the Uber Cup semi-finals at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here on Friday.The hosts thus settled for a bronze, while Japan will play their seventh final against defending champions China on Saturday.
Coming into the tie, India knew that Japan’s doubles pairs would be tough nuts to crack and it would need a miracle to eke out wins over them.At 2-2, the fate of the teams hinged on the decisive second doubles. Saina and Sindhu — playing for the second together in the event — failed to get past the fifth ranked pair of Myuki Maeda and Reika Kakitwa as the Japan team burst into celebration after the 21-14, 21-11 win in 38 minutes.Saina had brought the first point for the hosts with a rather comfortable 21-12, 21-13 win over Minatsu Mitani, but it was second singles between youngsters Sindhu and Sayaka Takahashi that had the frenzied crowd at edge of their seats.
Sindhu came back from a game down to win 19-21, 21-18, 26-24.In the first doubles, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa had a chance to seal the issue for India but faltered against the brilliant defence of world no. 4 Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi. They lost 12-21, 22-20, 16-21, as Japan took their first point.
In an expected result, world no. 16 Eriko Hirose levelled the points for Japan with a 21-14, 21-15 win over P.C. Thulasi in the third singles.
Earlier, China’s 10-year reign in the men’s team event was brought to an end by Japan, who sent the defending champions crashing out of the Thomas Cup with a dominant 3-0 scoreline.
The women however, kept the flag flying, crushing South Korea 3-0 in their Uber Cup semi-final in their hunt for a 13th title. World no. 1 Li Xuerui led the way before Bao Yixin and Tang Jinhua and Wang Shixian completed the rout.For China’s men, the loss meant they will not be able to go for a sixth straight Thomas Cup title.Later five-time champions Malaysia, led by world no. 1 Lee Chong Wei, set up a final showdown with Japan, after their thumping 3-0 win over 13-time champions Indonesia.
