Asia C’ship: Sindhu wins but India lose to Japan

TIL Desk Sports/ Indian women shuttlers advanced to the Badminton Asia Team Championship quarter-finals despite a 1-4 loss to Japan in which P V Sindhu notched the country’s only win Alor Setar, Malaysia, on Thursday.

Sindhu extended her domination over world No 2 Akane Yamaguchi with a straight-game win. Despite the loss, India qualified for the quarter-final in both the women’s and men’s competition.

The Indian women finished second in Group W with one win and one loss ahead of Hong Kong China but behind Japan. The Sindhu-led squad had defeated Hong Kong China 3-2 in its opening group tie.

With a rampaging 5-0 wins over lower-ranked Philippines and Maldives, the Indian men’s team too has qualified for the quarter-finals from Group D. The Indian men will now be up against mighty Indonesia in their last Group D tie later in the day.

Taking the court first, Olympic silver-medallist Sindhu dished out a fine attacking performance to beat Yamaguchi 21-19, 21-15 in 36 minutes. By virtue of this win, world No.4 Sindhu now enjoys a 5-3 head-to-head record against Yamaguchi.