Asian Games 2023: A quarterfinal exit for Indian women's badminton team

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Asian Games 2023 is underway and India have been doing pretty well so far in the event. However, the medal hopes for the Indian women's badminton team came to an end as they lost their semifinal match against Thailand on Friday (September 29).

Thailand dominated the Indian women's team and defeated the PV Sindhu-led side in three straight games (3-0).

Sindhu started the proceedings for India in the first match against world no. 12 Pornpawee Chochuwong. After winning the first set quite comprehensively, Sindhu lost in the remaining two. She ended up losing the game (21-14, 15-21, 14-21).

World number 17, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were the next to play for India. The duo faced world no. 10, Jongkolphan Kittitharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai, and the Indian duo could not convert their momentum into anything substantial. They lost in straight sets 19-21, 5-21. India were trailing 0-2 at this point.

India's hopes were now resting on Ashmita Chaliha's shoulders as she walked into the court to play a must-win game for India. However, she could not cross the hurdle of Busanan Ongbamrungphan and lost the game with a disappointing score of 9-21, 16-21. With that defeat, India's hopes for the medal in the women's badminton team even came to an end.

In the upcoming matches, the Indian men's badminton team, led by HS Prannoy, will aim to secure India's first badminton medal in the 19th edition of the Asian Games. They are set to face Nepal in the quarterfinals.

While the Indian women's team faced a quarterfinal exit, Indian badminton enthusiasts eagerly await the men's team's performance as they strive to clinch a medal in this edition of the Asian Games.

(With inputs from API)