Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024: Indian Women Beat Japan To Enter Final

Selangor, Feb 17: The Indian women's badminton team continued their stellar run in the ongoing Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 as they secured their first-ever final berth in the competition held in Selangor, Malaysia.

On Saturday (February 17), their remarkable journey to the final was marked by an exhilarating victory over top-seeded Japan, a feat that has sent ripples of pride throughout the Indian badminton fraternity.

Led by the youthful exuberance of their rising stars, the Indian women's team showcased nerves of steel as they toppled formidable opponents en route to the finals.

With the two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu in their ranks, the Indian team sought a strong start in the semi-final encounter but the ace shuttler failed to deliver. Despite a valiant effort from Sindhu, a lapse in concentration allowed her Japanese counterpart, Aya Ohori, to seize the opening game. Although Sindhu rallied admirably in the second game, she ultimately succumbed to a narrow defeat.

Undeterred by the setback, the dynamic duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand stepped up to the plate, facing off against the formidable Japanese pairing of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida. In a thrilling encounter that showcased their resilience and determination, the Indian pair emerged victorious, defying the odds and clinching a crucial win for their team.

The momentum continued to swing in India's favour as Ashmita Chaliha delivered a masterful performance, overcoming former world champion Nozomi Okuhara with her aggressive style of play. However, despite their valiant efforts, Sindhu and her partner Ashwini Ponnappa were unable to secure victory in the second doubles match.

Indian Women Beat Japan To Enter BATC Final

With the fate of the team hanging in the balance, national champion Anmol Kharab rose to the occasion, displaying maturity beyond her years as she outclassed her opponent, Natsuki Nidaira, to seal the historic victory for India.

Kharab, the world no 472, hardly showed any nerves and dominated the proceedings for most of her 52-minute clash against Nidaira, ranked no 29 in the world, to win 21-14, 21-18 and seal the victory for her team.

Kharab's remarkable feat underscored the depth of talent and potential within the Indian badminton circuit, offering a glimpse into the bright future of the sport in the country. She is already being hailed as the next big thing in Indian women's badminton. In her first major international outing, the 17-year-old young shuttler from Faridabad defeated China's Lou Yu in their Badminton Asia Team Championship match on February 14.

Against China too, Anmol found herself in a similar pressure situation as the match was poised at 2-2. The teenager walked into a massive pressure situation, one would have thought, but she showed that she was up for it and blanked the higher-ranked Chinese shuttler with her aggressive play.

The momentous occasion of the Indian women's badminton team progressing to the final was hailed by Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary of the Badminton Association of India, who lauded the young guns for their stellar performance and historic achievement.

"This is a proud moment for Indian badminton. Youngsters have justified the selection by rising to the occasion and contributing to the success and history by reaching the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships for the first time" said Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary, BAI.

In the final of the Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024, scheduled to be held on Sunday (February 17), India will face a strong Thailand side, who defeated Indonesia 3-1 in the other semi-final.

Badminton Asia Team Championships 2024 Women's Semifinal Result

India beat Japan 3-2 (PV Sindhu lost to Aya Ohori 13-21, 20-22; Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand bt Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida 21-17, 16-21; 22-20; Ashmita Chaliha bt Nozomi Okuhara 21-17, 21-14; Sindhu/Ashwini Ponnappa lost to Rena Miyaura/Ayako Sakuramoto 14-21, 11-21; Anmol Kharab bt Natsuki Nidaira 21-14, 21-18).